William Victor Trevor Rooper
| William Victor Trevor Rooper | |
|---|---|
| Born |
10 May 1897 Chester, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 9 October 1917 (aged 20) Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium (KIA) |
| Buried | Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord, France (50°44′17″N 2°44′35″E / 50.73806°N 2.74306°ECoordinates: 50°44′17″N 2°44′35″E / 50.73806°N 2.74306°E) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1917 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
Denbighshire Hussars No. 1 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards | Croix de Guerre (Belgium) |
| Relations | Sir Thomas Royden, 1st Baronet (grandfather) |
Captain William Victor Trevor Rooper (10 May 1897 – 9 October 1917) was a British World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories, before becoming Xavier Dannhuber's seventh victim.
Rooper was the third and youngest son of Percy Lens Rooper and Alice Nancy (née Royden), the daughter of Sir Thomas Royden, 1st Baronet, MP. He was born in Chester, Cheshire, though the family later moved over the border into Wales, living at Gresford in Denbighshire. He was educated at Bilton Grange and Charterhouse schools, and on the outbreak of war in August 1914 enlisted into the Yeomanry, although still only 17. He served as a motorcycle despatch rider for five months, until on 23 December 1914 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Denbighshire Hussars (Territorial Force).
He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1916, and after completing his pilot training was posted to No. 1 Squadron RFC in April 1917, to fly the Nieuport 17 single-seat fighter. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July, and gained his first victory on 28 July, driving down 'out of control' an Albatros D.V over Becelaere. Two further victories followed in early August, and he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain on the 24th. After upgrading to the Nieuport 27, he gained three more victories in September, and his final two in early October. His final tally was three enemy aircraft destroyed, four driven down out of control (two shared), and one captured (shared).
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