The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late John Cooper

A Great War M.C. group of seven awarded to Major R. G. Alexander, 11th Lancers (Proby’s Horse), late East Surrey Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R.; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Ladysmith (Lieut., 2/E. Surr. Rgt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt., 11 Lancers); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); Delhi Durbar 1903, silver, with ribbon buckle; Delhi Durbar 1911, mounted as worn but lacking pin, generally good very fine (7) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late John Cooper.

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See Colour Plate III

M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916: ‘For military operations in the field, Captain R. G. Alexander, 11th Lancers, Indian Army.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 18 June 1915 (French’s despatch of 31 May 1915), 1 January 1916, and 17 October 1916 (Lt-General Loche’s despatch of 24 August 1916).

Robert Gerald Alexander was born on 25 April 1880, and first commissioned into the East Surrey Regiment in May 1899. He served in the South African war with the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the action at Colenso, and took part in the operations of 17 to 24 June 1900, and action at Spion Kop (Queen’s Medal with clasp).

Alexander received the 1903 Delhi Durbar Medal as Extra A.D.C. to the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, and transferred to the Indian Army in the same year. In January 1904, he was posted to the 19th Lancers as a Squadron Officer, and became Captain in May 1908. He received the 1911 Durbar Medal as a Military Member of the Coronation Durbar committee. In December 1911, he joined Probyn’s Horse, and in December 1912 became Staff Captain, 3rd (Lahore) Division, Northern Army. He served on the Staff in France 1914-15, became Brigade Major in June 1915, and subsequently served on the Staff of Lieutenant General Loche at Basrah. He retired from the Indian Army as a Major in September 1915, and became a Captain in the Reserve Regiment of the 2nd Life Guards in August 1917.