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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 262

A Great War Mesopotamia M.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant G. R. J. Cooper, Royal Pioneer Corps, late Middlesex Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (265160 Pte G. Cooper. 9/Midd'x R.); British War and Victory Medals (265160 Pte. G. R. J. Cooper. Midd'x R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1041 Pte. G. R. J. Cooper. Midd'x. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (265160 Pte G. R. J. Cooper. M.M. 9-Midd'x R.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., Territorial with two extra bars (6193871 Sjt. G. R. J. Cooper. M.M. 9 - Midd'x R.), mounted as worn, polished, very fine (8)

M.M. London Gazette 20 August 1919.

T.F.E.M. as per A.O. 507 of 1920. The First and Second Clasps followed as per A.O. 101/51.

George Richard James Cooper was born on 10 June 1893 and served with the Middlesex Regiment throughout the Great War. He was awarded his Military Medal for service in Mesopotamia whilst serving with the 9th (Territorial Force) Battalion. This unit was involved in the actions of the Fat-ha Gorge and on the Little Zab river between 23-26 October 1918. The 1/9th Middlesex came under shell fire on the evening of October 23rd however the enemy later fell back from the left bank of the Little Zab. Following the actions at the Little Zab, the British cavalry pursued the retreating Ottoman Sixth Army commanded by Ismail Hakki Bey to Sharqat (or Sharqat-i-Fathah), where the final battle of the campaign, the Battle of Sharqat between 28-30 October 1918 took place.

Cooper remained in the Territorials after the Great War before he later served with the Royal Pioneer Corps. He lived at 4 Mayo Road, Willesden, London at the time of the award of his Second World War medals and died in January 1975.

Extract from 64th Newsletter:

"6193871 Ex. Sgt. G. R. J. Cooper MM has been awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal with four clasps (sic). He can scarecely (sic) fit them on the Ribbon. This Soldier joined 9 Mx in 1911, and continued on the active list until the conclusion of the 1939/45 War in which his final Corps was the Royal Pioneer Corps. All previous service belongs in 9 Mx.

He gained the Military Medal for gallantry during service in 9 Mx in 1918 at the action of the crossing of the River Shargar (sic) in Mesopotamia. So he served in both World War with distinction. A remarkable record of 34 years.

He is now employed in the Solicitors Firm of which Major H. K. Hardcastle TD is principal. This ex-soldier served in 9 Mx for many years and volunteered for service in E.A. at Calais where he was captured and remained a P.Of W. till the War ended. His son served in 1 Mx in Korea, and has recently returned to serve in the 7 Mx as a T.A. Volunteer Officer."

Sold together with the following archive:

i)
Territorial Army Badge receipt, dated 5 October 1938 for badge 112207.

ii)
Cover note for the 1st and 2nd Clasps for the Efficiency Medal with envelope.

iii)
Uniform riband bars.

iv)
Typed extract from the 64th Newsletter.

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Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400