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Westmeath Independent, February 14, 1914

The “Peking and Tientsin Times” had just paid “an appreciative tribute… to the abilities of a [Mullingar] man”, the Westmeath Independent revealed on February 14, 1914, describing the paper as one of the most influential daily newspapers in North China.

The man in question was Brigadier General CJ Cooper, CB, MVO, DSO, from Dunboden (between Rochfortbridge and Mullingar). He was, at the time of writing, in command of the British monarch’s forces in North China, wrote the Westmeath Independent.

“Here, almost all the great powers have troops stationed in the interests of their subjects and the area occupied by the international forces covers to a large extent the scene of the Boxer rising of some years ago.

“The headquarters of the nation’s troops lie in and around Tientsin, and military manoeuvres were organised having for their object an attack upon and the defence of Tientsin. The general idea was that all the foreign troops in North China should undertake to capture and defend Tientsin, something after the manner in which they were associated in 1900 when they successfully tried conclusions with the Boxer element.

“The Japanese, too, have troops in North China, and they united in making up a unique scene of mimic warfare.

“The forces were divided into a Northern and a Southern force, the former being the defenders and the latter, the attacking party, under command of General Gauthier, of the French Army, while the defenders were commanded by Brigadier General CJ Cooper, CB, MVO, DSO, of Dunboden, Co Westmeath, to whose abilities as a soldier the officers holding command in China paid a high tribute in selecting him to direct defensive operations.

"After a series of operations, approaching as nearly as possible to the grim reality of warfare, the laurels of victory lay with the defenders, who not only successfully repelled the attach, but pursued the enemy, inflicting serious lines.

“At the conclusion of operations, General Salo of the Japanese Army, who had acted as umpire-in-chief, complimented General Cooper upon the masterly manner in which he had directed the operations of the defending forces, and complimented all the troops upon the splendid soldierly bearing manifested throughout the day.

“Col Edward Joshua Cooper CB, MVO (says ‘Who’s Who’) is son of the late Col H Cooper, of Dunboden, Westmeath and was born on the 21st April 1858. He was married in 1894, to Effie, eldest daughter and JT Balmain, Esq. He was educated at Marlborough College, and entered the army in 1876; obtained the captaincy in 1885; Major, 1897, and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1904. He served with distinction in South Africa, 1899-1912; was mentioned in dispatches and created CB for valuable services rendered during the operations around Thibet.

“General Cooper is expected to return home in the near future, and will take up his residence at the family seat, Dunboden, Mullingar.”