Johnny Cooper – SAS

If you watched the recent television series on BBC about the Special Air Service you may recall a chap called Johnny Cooper, who aged 18 years of age volunteered for the SAS in 1941and became one of the “The Originals” raised by David Stirling to conduct operations behind enemy lines.
Driver to David Stirling in North Africa, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on November 26, 1942. During a raid in January 1943, David Stirling was captured and the then Sergeant Cooper managed to reach the Allied lines.

He was posted in September 1943 in the Green Howards after a cadet course. Cooper served again in the 1st Regiment of the SAS, from April 1944 to December 1945. On June 6 1944, D-Day he was parachuted into France and returned to England in September 1944. As Temporary Captain, he served in Germany from March 1945 to 4 April 1946.

The SAS were finally disbanded at Hylands House, Chelmsford.

After the war, he served in Cyprus in the Green Howards, from January 1947. He retired from the army in 1947. Appointed officer of the Territorial Army, he served in the SAS until 1962.As a Lieutenant, he served in Malaysia in 1952, with the 22nd SAS. Promoted to Commander in 1955, he remained in Malaysia. He was appointed member of the British Empire (MBE) on April 28, 1959 for operations between July 1st and December 31st 1958.As 22nd SAS Commander, he operated in Oman as head of the squadron of November 1958 to February 1959, which included the assault of the Jebel Akhdar, coordinated by Colonel David Smiley, then military adviser to the Sultan of Oman and Muscat. He retired in 1962 and became Lieutenant-Colonel of the Omani armed forces (Muscat Regiment) until 1966. From 1963 to early 1966, it was in Yemen where he ensured implementation of the British plan of assistance to the royalist tribes loyal to the Imam El Badr. Johnny took part in various raids in North Africa`, collaborated with mission of the war came in the summer of 1945 in Norway when they disarmed a German garrison days after the war had ended.

Cooper appeared on This is Your Life in 1995 with Michael Aspel.

Cooper died 12th July 2002, aged 80 and is buried in St. Mary’s church Moreton, where he had lived for many years. His son Graeme still lives in the village.

Distinguished Conduct Medal : Feb 1942 On returning from the 2nd raid against Buerat aerodrome the raiding party was ambushed by a strong and well-armed enemy force. This force was aligned along the road in an ideal position to throw grenades and to open fire with automatic weapons.

The ambush was a complete surprise but so quick was Sgt Cooper in getting his gun into action and so accurate was his aim in the face of intense fire from the automatic weapons of the enemy that the ambushers were seriously disconcerted. At least five of them were killed at point blank range by his fire. His quickness and courage on this occasion undoubtedly saved his companions. This NCO has taken part in 13 raids and performed many acts of gallantry comparable to the one described.