George Frederick Cooper

[Juleshippam]

Hi
I have been searching for information on my uncle George Frederick Cooper who had a colourful and somewhat secret history. Born in Eltham in 1918 begun his service with Royal West Kent Regiment service number 5727231 before moving to Italy and marrying Iolanda Rosati in Rome. He worked for War Graves Commission between UK and Rome from July 1946 until 1975 and died 10 February 1976 we think in Italy. I would love to know where he is buried and more information about his career. The War Graves Commission were helpful to a point and I have found minimal information from most sites. I know he was a Company Quartermaster Sergeant from the gazette May 1946 but can find no further records of duty or of his death. Any information would be gratefully received. Many thanks Julie

[Megan Roberts]

The Ministry of Defence has not release any army service records for those who served after 1921. Then link below will tell you how to apply for them:

https://www.british-genealogy.com/fo...-including-WW2

However, the current wait for records is many months and because you are not next of kin you would need a death certificate ...

I know nothing about Italian BMD registrations however from a couple of searches on line it seems that you need to know where he died as there is no central registry. The two links are below. One is from Family Search and the other is from the American Embassy!

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en...l_Registration
https://it.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen...vital-records/

It did occur to me that even if he died in Italy his death may have been registered with the British Embassy because of his work with the CWGC, and there it wouldn't hurt to ask the GRO for a search of the Overseas Death Registers.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

[Juleshippam]

The Ministry of Defence has not release any army service records for those who served after 1921. Then link below will tell you how to apply for them:

https://www.british-genealogy.com/fo...-including-WW2

However, the current wait for records is many months and because you are not next of kin you would need a death certificate ...

I know nothing about Italian BMD registrations however from a couple of searches on line it seems that you need to know where he died as there is no central registry. The two links are below. One is from Family Search and the other is from the American Embassy!

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en...l_Registration
https://it.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen...vital-records/

It did occur to me that even if he died in Italy his death may have been registered with the British Embassy because of his work with the CWGC, and there it wouldn't hurt to ask the GRO for a search of the Overseas Death Registers.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

Hi Megan
Thank you so much for reply. As you can appreciate in a little bit of a circle as unsure where George actually died. I will try the links you mention however as live in Australia difficult. Will continue my search. Many thanks julie