  major edward cooper vc (4 may 1896 &ndash; 19 august 1985) was an english recipient of the victoria cross (vc), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces. ==details== cooper was 21 years old, and a sergeant in the 12th battalion, the king's royal rifle corps, british army during the first world war when the following deed took place on 16 august 1917 at langemarck, during the battle of passchendaele for which he was awarded the vc. the citation was published in the london gazette on 14 september 1917, and reads:  ==later years== he later achieved the rank of major. his medal is on display at preston park museum & grounds in stockton. major cooper was cremated at teesside crematorium. ==references==  *monuments to courage (david harvey, 1999) *the register of the victoria cross (this england, 1997) *vcs of the first world war - passchendaele 1917 (stephen snelling, 1998) =
1896_births 1985_deaths British_Army_personnel_of_World_War_I British_Army_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross British_World_War_I_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross King\'s_Royal_Rifle_Corps_officers King\'s_Royal_Rifle_Corps_soldiers People_from_Stockton-on-Tees