Lance Corporal Joseph Henry Cooper was born on the 18th of November 1889, in Belper, Derbyshire. He enlisted into the 1/5th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters at Ripley, Derbyshire on the 10th of February 1913. Joseph had early regimental number 1801, before receiving the number 200209. 

The 1/5th Battalion, was a territorial battalion based at the Drill Hall in Derby. They were mobilised, along with Joseph, on the 4th of August 1914 at the outbreak of the Great War (1914-18). The 1/5th moved first to Harpenden and then to Braintree, in the November, to carry out extensive training.  

Joseph arrived in France on the 1st of March 1915, a few days after the majority of his battalion. The Battalion became part of the 139 Brigade of the 46th Division. 

Joseph and the 1/5th Battalion would have seen action with the 46th Division at: Hooge (July 1915), Gommecourt on the 1st Day of the Somme (July 1916), Cite St Elie and the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line (in 1917), and in 1918 The Battle of St Quentin canal, Battle of Beaurevoir Line and Battle of Cambrai. 

During his service Joseph was wounded in the knee by a gunshot wound, which resulted in an amputation below the knee. It is not known when he sustained this injury. 

He served 7 years and 50 days with the Sherwood Foresters before being discharged on the 21st of January 1919. 

Joseph died of natural causes at Derby on the 4th of June 1957.