Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (Lionel Francis Abingdon Cochran) nearly extremely fine £100-140

Captain Lionel Francis Abingdon Cochran was born in Edinburgh on 20 March 1882. He was educated by private tutors and in Germany. He joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Leinster Regiment in February 1900 and served with the battalion in South Africa. There he served on the lines of communication and despite his youth, was twice given responsible posts and a commission from Lord Roberts in the Worcstershire Regiment. For his services he was awarded the Queen’s medal with three clasps. He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1901 and advanced to Lieutenant in December. After being attached to the Hampshire Regiment he was transferred in 1901 to the Indian Army. He was posted to the 72nd Punjabis in Burma and became a Double Company Officer in July 1905. He served with them until 1914 when he was selected to go with the 92nd Punjabis on active service. The unit was sent to guard the Suez Canal at Ismailia. Cochran was killed in action, 4 February 1915, while leading his men at Tussum, on the Canal. Elements of the 92nd had surrounded a party of the Turks. They held up a white flag in surrender. Captain Cochran with some men advanced to take the surrender but was fired upon. He and his men had to fall back, await re-inforcements and then renewed the attack, whereupon the Turks surrendered for real. It was during the second attack that Cochran was killed. He was buried at Ismailia. He was mentioned in General Sir John Maxwell’s despatch of 16 February 1915 (London Gazette 21 June 1916). The officer of the 72nd Punjabis erected a mural tablet to his memory at St. Mary Bolton’s Church, London, S.W., and officers of the 92nd Punjabis put up a cross and stone on his grave at Ismailia. With copied research.