A scarce Great War ‘Gallipoli operations’ M.C. group of six awarded to Captain, late Sergeant Major, H. Cooper, 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, later attached as an Equipment Officer with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. H. Cooper. R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Lieut. H. Cooper.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (4391 S. Mjr: H. Cooper. R. Fus.) generally very fine (6) £1,000-£1,400

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 May 1916.

Herbert Cooper was born in Norwood, London in 1875. He attested for the Royal Fusiliers in September 1892, and was posted for service with the 2nd Battalion in November of the same year. Young advanced to Corporal in January 1895, and to Sergeant in April 1898. He transferred to the 3rd Battalion in November 1898, and advanced to Colour Sergeant in January 1900. Cooper served with both the 4th and 7th Battalions, before advancing to Sergeant Major in March 1908 and returning to the 2nd Battalion in March the following year.

Cooper was serving with the Battalion in India at the time of the Delhi Durbar of 1911. He was still serving at the outbreak of the Great War, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in November 1914. At the ‘outbreak of war the battalion was in India, and it did not embark for England until December [1914]. January 18th, a week after they had settled down at Stockingford, was the first day of mobilisation and a few days later Lt. J V Scudmore and 2/Lt. H Cooper handed over the Colours to the Lord Mayor of London.’ (The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War by H. C. O’Neill refers)

Cooper landed with the Battalion at Alexandria, 28 March 1915, and then on Lemnos, 11 April 1915. The 2nd Battalion, as part of the 29th Division, landed on ‘X’ beach on the Gallipoli Peninsula, 25 April 1915. Despite being supported by fire from H.M.S. Implacable, Cooper’s battalion suffered heavy casualties, including both the commanding officer and his 2nd in command being wounded.

After the attack on Krithia, 1 May 1915, ‘there were now only six officers left [in the 2nd Battalion], Munday became adjutant. Huggett, O’Connell, Hewitt and Cooper were the other officers and there were still 425 other ranks.’ (Ibid)

The 2nd Battalion took part in the Second Battle of Krithia, and after the Third Battle of Krithia, 4 June 1916, ‘very soon the Battalion was taken from the left rear. Many men were shot in the back. Only one officer 2/Lt Cooper, remained.’ (Ibid)

Oswin Creighton’s With the Twenty Ninth Division in Gallipoli records the following for 8 June 1915:

‘I went to Gully Beach where I found what was left of the RF’s and stayed with them till Friday. It was so tragic. I came out with such a magnificent regiment, with such regimental pride, and such a delightful band of officers. Only one left, G [refers to Cooper as this throughout], the former Sgt. Major, besides the Quartermaster. He was asleep when I arrived... G was quite played out.’

Cooper, along with the 2nd Battalion, was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915. He subsequently served in the French theatre of war, and was Adjutant at the Cyclist Base Depot in Rouen. Cooper was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in December 1917, and served as an Equipment Officer. He transferred to the Royal Air Force in April 1918, and advanced to Temporary Captain in October 1918. Cooper returned to the Royal Fusiliers, and was posted to the 3rd Battalion in July 1919. He was compulsorily retired due to age in January 1920.

After the war Cooper resided at ‘Mudros’, 8 Marshall Road, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, and he died in the county in March 1961.

Sold with extensive copied research, including several photographic images of the recipient.