British Navy search

[HarrysMum]

I have no idea where to look for this, but Ancestry is giving me absolutely nothing, so I'd say the mistake is mine.

Ralph Ernest COOPER, born 1st Nov 1920. I'm looking to find a military record, medals, etc.

He came to Australia after WW2 and dies here a couple of years ago.

[HarrysMum]

Think I've found him. Honestly Ancestry can be a pain. I might still need some help. Hang in there.

[HarrysMum]

Yes, I need help. Any idea on where to start?

[ElizabethHerts]

Can you see the records, Libby?

[Merry]

I can only see him in the 'UK, Navy Lists, 1888-1970' in 1945 and 1946.

[HarrysMum]

That's all I found Merry and they are identical when you open them.
No, I can't find any records at all Elizabeth.

[HarrysMum]

His parents were Ernest Cooper and Catherine Alice Jobber.

[Merry]

What else are you after apart from Navy records?

He's on the 1939 Register with his parents and siblings.

[HarrysMum]

Yes please. There are about a million Ralph Coopers and even more Ernest Coopers.

[Merry]

And birth and marriage reg. Was his wife actually called Priscilla? The marriage reg says Jean M Tonks but I thought she might be Priscilla J M Tonks b Wolverhampton District 1929.

the 1939 Register entry shows:

151 Stringes Lane , Willenhall, Staffordshire

Ernest S Cooper 11 Nov 1893 Married Lock & Pressings Inspector
Catherine Alice Cooper 12 Aug 1900 Married Unpaid Domestic Duties
Ralph E Cooper 01 Nov 1920 Single Assistant Engineer X Ray & Medic Apprentice
Phoebe E A (Elizabeth Alice) Bennett (Cooper) 07 Sep 1925 Single At School
Lorna M Cooper 09 May 1931 Single At School
George Harry Cooper 20 Oct 1936 Single Under School Age

[HarrysMum]

Thanks Merry.

What is the Bennett ? Do you know?

[kiterunner]

WW2 records aren't online yet, Libby, because of privacy reasons.

[Merry]

Thanks Merry.

What is the Bennett ? Do you know?

The married surname for his sister.

[HarrysMum]

Yes, Priscilla is Jean.

[HarrysMum]

The married surname for his sister.

Isn’t she only 14?

[Merry]

Here's info on her death:

Name: Mrs Phoebe Elizabeth Bennett
Gender: Female
Age: 90
Birth Date: 7 Sep 1925
Death Date: 18 May 2015
Residence Place at Death: Walsall, England
Postal Code District: Ws5

I'm not sure which is the right marriage.....

[Merry]

Isn’t she only 14?

Yes, but the marriage could have been any time up until 1991 after which the records were no longer updated manually.

[HarrysMum]

Thanks Kate.

Merry.......so Phoebe is 14, married and single at school?

[HarrysMum]

Ah....so the 1939 register wasn’t actually written as the record of the day? Not like census.

This is the first person I have found still in UK that late......lol

[kiterunner]

It was originally filled in on the day, Libby, but it was kept updated for decades.

[HarrysMum]

Thanks. That makes sense.