Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers

Eight: Major A. E. Cockeran, Royal Pioneer Corps, Middlesex Regiment and 9th Bhopal Infantry, who was commissioned into the Indian Army during the Great War, wounded and Mentioned in Despatches during the Third Afghan War, and was again Mentioned in Despatches for Second War services in North West Europe

British War Medal 1914-20 (2. Lieut. A. E. Cockeran.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1041 Cpl. A. E. Cockeran. Midd’x. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. A. E. Cockeran. I. A.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (Capt. A. E. Cockeran. R.P.C.); together with the recipient’s original card box of issue for Second World War awards, addressed to ‘Major A. E. Cockeran, 13 Goddington Lane, Orpington, Kent’; named card box of issue for Efficiency Medal; two officer’s bronze Pioneer Corps collar badges; four Major’s rank crowns; and a King’s Badge for Loyal Service, good very fine (8) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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Alfred Ernest Cockeran was born in Fulham in 1895. He served in the 10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Territorial Force), reaching the rank of Sergeant in 1912 and continued to serve them after the outbreak of the Great War, specifically with the 1/10th Battalion in India from September 1914 to July 1918 at which he time he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army and posted to the 9th Bhopal Infantry as Adjutant.

During the Third Afghan War Cockeran served as Lieutenant with the 3-9th Bhopal Infantry and was attached as Special Service Officer in the rank of Captain to the Jhind Infantry on the Baluchistan front as part of the force under Lieutenant-General R. Wapshare. He was wounded by gunshot during the action at Hindubagh on 22 July 1919 and Mentioned in Despatches ‘for distinguished services during the operations against Afghanistan’ (London Gazette 3 August 1920). His was the only ‘mention’ for this campaign to this unit or for the 3-9th Bhopals.

After retiring from the Indian Army in 1921, Cockeran worked in India, Burma, and Ceylon as a Merchant’s Assistant.
In January 1940 he was again commissioned Second Lieutenant and posted to his former unit, the 10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. After service at the Aliens’ Camp at York and the Czech Soldiers’ Camp at Sutton Park, he was transferred as Lieutenant to the Royal Pioneer Corps in October 1940 and was promoted War Substantive Captain on 16 January 1941. Captain Cockeran served in France with the Royal Pioneer Corps from 17 June 1944. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his service in N. W. Europe (London Gazette 8 November 1945) and remained in Germany with the British Army of the Rhine until he relinquished his commission while holding the rank of Major on the grounds of disability in May 1948. He was awarded his Efficiency Medal in 1947 (London Gazette 21 February 1947), and died in Hillingdon, Middlesex, in 1967.

Sold with copied research.