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Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 175

(x) Four: Chief Gunner T. Cocker, Royal Navy

East and West Africa 1887-1900, for Mwele 1895, 2 clasps, Brass River 1895, Benin 1897 (T. Cocker, Lg. Sean., H.M.S. Barrosa. M'Wele 1895); 1914-15 Star (Gnr. T. Cocker. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. Gnr. T. Cocker. R.N.), good very fine (4)

Thomas Cocker was born on 26 February 1871 and having seen much service in Africa was commissioned Acting Gunner on 7 October 1902, being confirmed in rank on 2 February 1904. Upon the outbreak of the Great War he served aboard the Orotava. She was a commercial liner converted for use as an Armed Merchant Cruiser in the Royal Navy. She was armed with five 6-inch guns and two 6-pounder H.A. guns. She was commissioned on 17 December 1914 and was decommissioned on 1st January 1919. The Orotava was converted to a Seaplane Tender about November 1916. Before that she was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, from December 1914-October 1916 with the Northern Patrol. The most prominent employment of Armed Merchant Cruisers was in the creation of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, used to maintain the blockade of the North Sea, its patrol area extending from the Norwegian coast far into the Atlantic and covering all approaches to the European continent from a northerly direction. In so doing, they relieved twenty or more regular Navy cruisers for other duties. Forty-one different converted passenger ships served with the Squadron for some length of time, each armed with guns up to 6-inch calibre. The 10th Cruiser Squadron was finally paid off on 7 December 1917, Cocker having been made Chief Gunner on 7 October 1917. After being converted, she saw further service off West Africa and in the Southern Atlantic. Cocker died in October 1921.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,400

Starting price
£240