Orders, Decorations and Medals

An exceptional ‘Zeebrugge’ D.S.O. group of five awarded to Major T. F. V. Cooke, Royal Marine Light Infantry, dangerously wounded, promoted to Captain and Brevet Major, awarded the D.S.O. and participated in the ballot for the award of the Victoria Cross granted for operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of 22nd/23rd April 1918

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (2nd Lieut., R.M.) naming re-impressed; British War and Victory Medals (Maj., R.M.); French Croix de Guerre 1914-18, with palm, very fine (5) £2000-2500

D.S.O. London Gazette 23 July 1918: ‘By his personal bravery under fire set a magnificent example to his men, and led them forward with the greatest courage in spite of being wounded. He was wounded a second time whilst endeavouring to carry a wounded man back to the ship.’

Participated in ballot for award of the Victoria Cross granted for operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of 22/23 April 1918 (London Gazette 21 May 1918).

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 February 1919.

Croix de Guerre London Gazette 23 July 1918, for Zeebrugge.

Promoted Major by Brevet for services on the Belgian Coast on 23 April 1918, London Gazette 18 June 1918.

Theodore Frederic Vernon Cooke was born on 22 June 1896, son of John Vernon Cooke, serving with the Indian Police Force. He entered the Royal Marines as Probationary Second Lieutenant on 22 August 1914, and in May 1915 was posted to H.M.S. Suffolk, flagship North America and West Indies Station, engaged on patrol duties and conveying troops from Jamaica to Gibraltar in July and August 1916. From January 1917 to January 1918 he served with the 3rd R.M. Battalion at Mudros in the Aegean, and on 12 February 1918, he was posted to the 4th R.M. Battalion.

At Zeebrugge, Cooke was part of the R.M. Storming Party embarked on Vindictive, detailed to attack the Mole and capture ammunition dumps, shed and shelters. Owing to casualties in the Plymouth Company as Vindictive got alongside the Mole, No. 5 Platoon of the Portsmouth Company, under Lieutenant Cooke and Captain Bamford, led the attack; this platoon proceeded to the right along the raised pathway and silenced a party of snipers who were near No. 2 Shed and were firing into the units disembarking. The platoon was led by Lieutenant Cooke with the greatest gallantry and dash though he was wounded very early. Cooke’s platoon now formed up with No. 6 and 8 platoons of the Portsmouth Company under Captain Bamford, whose initiative and courage were a magnificent example to all, and stormed the 4.1 inch Battery, but before it could be fully carried out the “General Recall” was sounded by the Daffodil as the Vindictive’s siren had been put out of action by a shell. Nevertheless, it was ascertained that the Battery at the end of the Mole was now out of action.

The withdrawal had now to be commenced; in order to reach the raised path and so the gangways of the ship, the men had to climb up the scaling ladders carrying their wounded and their guns, and then cross the swaying brows to the ship. The enemy were shelling the Mole heavily but the platoons, now very reduced in numbers, came back in good order bringing their wounded with them. Lieutenant Cooke was again severely wounded in the head whilst carrying back a wounded man to the ladders. His batman Private J. D. L. Press, who was acting as his runner remained with him and although himself wounded, eventually succeeded in carrying Lieutenant Cooke back on board the Vindictive. For his gallantry, Private Press was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

Cooke was one of the most junior officers to win the D.S.O., indeed only two other R.M.L.I. Lieutenants were so honoured during the Great War, both for services with the Royal Naval Air Service. H.M. the King conferred on the 4th Battalion Royal Marines the signal honour of the award of two Victoria Crosses under the provision of the Ninth Statute of the decoration. The ballot was duly held at Deal on 26th April, and the greatest number of votes were cast for Captain E. Bamford, D.S.O., R.M.L.I., the next being Sergeant N. A. Finch, R.M.A., and they duly received the Cross from his hands. It was also entered in the records of all those who formed the Battalion that they took part in the ballot for the award of the Cross.

Major Cooke never properly recovered and was placed on the retired list in December 1922 on account of his Medical unfitness, suffering from Jacksonian Epilepsy brought on by his wounds. He retired to Jersey where he lived at St Helier until his death on 30 December 1958.