Kenneth Cooper (cricketer)

Kenneth Edward Cooper MC (13 July 1883 — 26 February 1969) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in the British Indian Army.

Cooper was born at Bromley in July 1883. He was educated at Harrow School,^[1] from where he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He graduated in April 1903 as a second lieutenant into the Essex Regiment,^[2] with promotion to lieutenant in November 1907, at which point he had been transferred to the Mahratta Light Infantry of the British Indian Army.^[3] While serving in British India, he played first-class cricket for the Europeans cricket team from 1908 to 1922, making sixteen appearances. He also made an additional two appearances for England against India in 1915 and 1918.^[4] He scored 327 runs in his eighteen first-class matches, at an average of 13.08. His highest score was 55 not out, one of two half centuries he scored.^[5] With the ball, he took 11 wickets at a bowling average of 21.90, with best figures of 3 for 24.^[6]

Cooper gained promotion in the Mahratta's to captain in July 1912.^[7] Cooper served with the Mahratta's in the First World War, during which he was awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service in the field,^[8] in addition to being mentioned in dispatches for services during the Mesopotamian campaign in 1914 and 1915.^[9] In the final year of the war, he was promoted to major.^[10] Following the war, Cooper was appointed an acting lieutenant colonel in December 1919, covering the months of May and June 1919 when he commanded a battalion.^[11] He gained the rank in full in April 1929,^[12] before being placed on the unemployed list in February 1934 and retired in August of the same year.^[13][14] He returned to active service during the Second World War,^[15] before ceasing his war service in November 1944.^[16] Cooper died in Spain in February 1969.