The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late A. A. Mount

A Great War M.C., D.C.M. group of six to Lieutenant A. Coucher, Essex Regiment, late Queen’s Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Lieut. A. Coucher, D.C.M., Essex Regt., Famars, Oct. 24th 1918’; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8371 Sjt., 6/Queen’s Regt.); 1914-15 Star (Sjt., The Queen’s R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); Defence, very fine (6) £1200-1500

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

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M.C. London Gazette 2 April 1919; citation 10 December 1919 (Lt. A. Coucher, D.C.M., 2/Essex Regiment): ‘For marked gallantry whilst commanding a platoon in the attack on the enemy positions East of Verchain on 26.October 1918. When it looked as if his company would be held up by a hostile machine-gun he led some men against it and put the gun out of action. At the final objective, parties of the enemy put up a stubborn resistance in a sunken road, and it was due to his fearless leadership that the opposition was so quickly overcome.’

D.C.M. London Gazette 11 March 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in a gun trench, Sgt Coucher and Pte. Osmond gave great assistance to Lt. Pike in collecting and rallying men and stopping a German attack.’

Albert James Coucher was born in 1886 and served in the Queen’s Regiment 1905-13 before being transferred to the Reserve. He was remobilised in August 1914 and attained the rank of C.Q.M.S. before being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment on 30 April 1916, for services in the field. He was promoted Lieutenant on 1 April 1917. After the War he returned to employment with London Transport and retired in 1950 as District Inspector of Buses, stationed at Enfield. Sold with silver cigarette case bearing the crest of the Essex Regiment and inscribed, ‘A. J. Coucher’; also with15 sheets of copied War Diary reports. See lot 384 for father’s medals.