Home | Veterans | James Cooper
James-Cooper

A veteran interview with

James Cooper

As a young man in the Reconnaissance Corps, James Cooper witnessed some sad things during the Normandy invasion. But his faith kept him going.

Video Coming Soon

Bringing military history to life

Help us tell this veteran's story!

About James Cooper

Credits



Copyright:
All video content, web site design, graphics, images (including submitted content), text, the selection and arrangement thereof, underlying source code, software and all other material on this Web site are the copyright of Legasee Educational Trust, and its affiliates, or their content and technology providers. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials on this Web site – including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication – without the prior written permission of Legasee Educational Trust is strictly prohibited.

Home | Veterans | James Cooper

A veteran interview with

James Cooper

James-Cooper

As a young man in the Reconnaissance Corps, James Cooper witnessed some sad things during the Normandy invasion. But his faith kept him going.

Related topics & talking points

Keep on watching

More veteran stories...

Share this interview on:

https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/james-cooper/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Cooper, James. A Veteran Interview with James Cooper. Interview by Unknown. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/james-cooper/. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Cooper, J. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with James Cooper [Interview by Unknown]. Legasee. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/james-cooper/
Chicago Style:
Cooper, James. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with James Cooper. Interview by Unknown. Legasee. Accessed May 23, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/james-cooper/
Harvard Style:
Cooper, J. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with James Cooper. [Interviewed by Unknown]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/james-cooper/ (Accessed: 23 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Cooper, J. A Veteran Interview with James Cooper [Internet]. Interview by Unknown. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 May 23]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/james-cooper/
An interview with

Geoffrey Pidgeon

Geoffrey Pidgeon, recruited at only 14 by MI6, shares his extensive knowledge of wireless communications and intelligence gathering during WWII

In this engaging interview, Geoffrey Pidgeon explains how his father’s role in stores at Bletchley Park, combined with his teenage pastime of model building, led to a job offer with the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). After securing his parents' permission to leave school, Geoffrey accepted the offer. Initially joining the Communication Section, later known as Section VIII, he began working in the workshops at Whaddon Hall. At just 14, he was the youngest member of the team—and potentially the youngest in the entire SIS. This marks the beginning of an extraordinary wartime experience. Geoffrey eventually went on to work for the newly created Mobile Construction Team, installing wireless equipment in vehicles and aircraft to assist with the interception of enemy communications. His professional experiences, alongside his personal life in Stony Stratford, placed him in a unique position to witness and participate in the highly confidential world of wartime intelligence gathering. This enables him to provide a deeply insightful account of how wireless communication and its rapid development played a crucial role in the success of Allied operations, as well as the integral nature of the ‘Y’ Service and the work at Bletchley Park.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martyn Cox
An interview with

Dorothy Apps

Dorothy was a member of the WRAC band.

In this interview Dorothy recalls her time as a member of the WRAC band, and begins her story by sharing her experience of growing up during the Second World War. Dorothy wanted to join the Royal Signals but was sent to audition for the WRAC band at Guildford after they found out she was a talented cornet player. She has fond memories of playing with the band and describes the range of music they would play. Dorothy toured overseas, played for British radio and TV, and performed at parades. She remembers the frightening experience of travelling through Berlin, which was occupied by Russia at the time, and seeing Hitler's bunker which had only recently been blown up. Dorothy also describes Checkpoint Charlie, Spandau Prison and blacked out trains. Reflecting on the WRAC, Dorothy thoroughly enjoyed her time with the band but left to pursue a more independent career.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Janet Brodie-Murphy

Janet worked in Welfare whilst she served in the WRAC.

Janet began her journey with the WRAC in the early 1970s and knew on arrival that it was the right career for her. Although she initially found life at Guildford a bit of shock, by the time she had finished her trade training with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, she felt like a soldier. She describes her first posting to Rheindahlen where aside from working on classified clerical work, she embarked on many trips to surrounding cities and landscapes. Janet also recalls the rising threat of Eastern Germany, and her own exposure to the realities of the Cold War. After Germany she was posted to Beaconsfield, Krefeld and Deepcut where she became chief clerk of the WRAC company in 1976. Although this was a great achievement, Janet remembers still feeling outnumbered by men in the army and experiencing gender discrimination even at her rank. The rest of the interview follows her journey to London, back to Rheindahlen, and finally becoming quartermaster at Aldershot where she campaigned for contraceptive machines in the women's blocks. A fantastic interview and a true trailblazer, we thank Janet for her inspiring story of the frustrations, limitations and power of women in the army.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker