Ten: Wing Commander H. Cooper, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps

1914-15 Star (2131 1 A.M., R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2131 S.M. 1, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (2131 Fl. Sjt., R.F.C.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., coinage head (2131 S.M. 1, R.A.F.) the earlier awards polished, otherwise generally very fine or better an extremely rare Army M.S.M. to the R.F.C. (10) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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Hugh Cooper was born in April 1894 and enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in November 1914. Posted to France as an Air Mechanic in February 1915, he was recommended for the M.S.M. in March 1917, ‘for most conspicuous diligence and ingenuity displayed in the performance of his work’ as a Flight Sergeant (Draughtsman) (London Gazette 4 June 1917). Granted Warrant Officer status in the rank of Chief Master Mechanic on the formation of the Royal Air Force in April 1918, Cooper remained a regular after the War and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal while serving at the Aircraft Depot, Iraq in 1932. Commissioned into the Technical Branch in August 1937, he was advanced to Flight Lieutenant in August 1940 and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 14 January 1944). He finally retired in July 1949 and was allowed to retain the rank of Wing Commander; see Ian McInnes’ The M.S.M. to Aerial Forces for futher career details and photograph.

NB
A second Army M.S.M. is known to exist to Cooper.