Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Boer War D.C.M. group of seven to Sergeant-Major W. Cook, Royal Horse Atrillery, who was taken prisoner at Sanna's Post and awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry at the battle of Bothaville

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, E.VII.R. (B. Sjt. Maj., U. Bty. R.H.A.); QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (B.S. Major, Q.B.R.H.A.); KING'S SOUTH AFRICA, 2 clasps (B.S. Major, R.H.A.); BRITISH WAR MEDAL (Lieut., 37 Cal. Presy. Bin. I.D.F.); CORONATION 1911; ARMY L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (Serjt. Maj., R.H.A.); MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, G.VI.R. (Sjt. Mjr., D.C.M., R.A.), contact marks, particularly on the K.S.A., otherwise gener ally very fine (7)

D.C.M., London Gazette, 27 September 1901.

Cook was Battery Sergeant-Major and, therefore, Senior N.C.O. of 'Q' Battery in the action at Sanna's Post on 31st March 1900, and was taken prisoner during the latter stages of the action. His name, together with those of the other N.C.O's, was put forward in the ballot for the Victoria Cross, Sergeant C. Parker being the N.C.O. that they elected for the award. Shortly after the action at Sanna's Post, Cook transferred to 'U' Battery and was once again the Battery Sergeant Major in the fierce action at Bothaville on 6 November, 1900, where ‘notwithstanding a hail of bullets from the Boer Sharpshooters, the gunners coolly unlimbered, opened fire, and continued in action for some hours, while their smoking guns grew white with the splashes of lead.’ ‘U' Battery records confirm that B.S. Major Cook was awarded the D.C.M. for this action. Cook died at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in September, 1953 having been awarded the M.S.M. in 1944. The lot is accompanied by a quantity of research.