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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 712

Pair: Private J. R. Cooper, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, who was wounded in action during the Battle for Bazentin-Le-Grand Wood on 14 July 1916

British War and Victory Medals (23314 Pte. J. R. Cooper. Bord. R.), sold together with a very fine silver cigarette case engraved 'K.S. Blighty Girls J.R.C. 1914-1919', hallmarked for Birmingham 1919, slight edge bruiser very fine (2)

John Robert Cooper was born at Startforth, Barnard Castle, County Durham on 28 August 1915, the son of Thomas and Mary Cooper of Startforth. His father worked as a Railway Platelayer and soon moved to Crosby Garret, Cumberland taking his family with him. The young Cooper joined his father in the railway trade, finding pre-war employment as a Lengthman.

Enlisting with the Border Regiment Cooper was posted to join the 2nd Battalion in France and entered the war there on 23 June 1916. Posted to 'A' Company he joined them in their preparations for the coming offensive. Thrown into action on 1 July 1916 the Battalion performed well at first however the failure of the 9th Devonshire Regiment on their flank exposed them to a murderous fire. They were forced to hold their ground until support arrived and the attack stalled there, being relieved into a reserve position on 3 July.

Surviving the infamous first day Cooper again went into action when the Battalion was committed to the Battle of Bazentin-Le-Grand Wood on 14 July 1916. Here he suffered a gunshot wound in the arm when during the process of clearing the wood. Taken to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station that same day he was transported by No. 25 Ambulance Train to Boulogne and evacuated to Britain where he entered King George Military Hospital, London.

Unable to serve on the frontlines Cooper was posted to the Labour Corps where he served for the rest of the war. Being demobilised in March 1919 he returned to Cumberland, being employed as an Air Raid Warden in the Second World War. Cooper died at Appleby, Westmorland in 1968; sold together with copied research including M.I.C., typed biography and hospital admissions book.

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Sold for
£70

Starting price
£30