An Excellent
“Double Gallantry”
MILITARY MEDAL & BAR.
with 1914-15 Trio.
Battles of The Somme & Cambrai
[THE MEDALS]
MILITARY MEDAL
4284 L.Cpl F.O. COOPER. 1/23 LOND. R.
London Gazette, 19th February 1917
London Gazette, 13th March 1918 (Bar)
1914-15 Star: 4284. Pte. F.O. COOPER. 23-LOND. R.
War & Victory: 4284. Sgt. F.O. COOPER. 23-LOND. R.
All Medals are in Superb Mint State.
This is an exceptionally desirable MM & Bar with 1914-15 Trio to a man in the greatly collected London Regiment, who survived over three years of major battles on the western front.
[1st/23rd LONDON Regiment]
The 1/23rd Londons fought in France and Flanders from March 1915 until the end of hostilities in 1918, and were involved in the major actions at Festubert, Loos, the Somme in 1916 and 1918, Messines, Ypres, Cambrai, Lille and Tournai.
The 1/23rd casualties were heavy, with 237 men being killed and 262 wounded at Givenchy during the Battle of Festubert alone. These casualties meant that they had lost almost exactly 50% of the unit’s strength in just 15 days from mid to late May 1915.
Thus, a new influx of men was badly needed which subsequently led to Fred Cooper and his fellow reinforcements arriving in France on 28th/29th October 1915 after the unit’s heavy losses at Givenchy during the Battle of Festubert. As detailed above, Fred’s obviously very gallant services included his participation in eight of the major battles of the Great War.
The fact that he survived at all is a near miracle in itself.
His first award of the Military Medal was won during the final weeks of the Battle of The Somme in late 1916 (London Gazette, 19th February 1917) with his Second award bar being awarded for his bravery during the world’s first tank battle at Cambria in November-December 1917. (London Gazette, 13th March 1918)
This is a classic and historically important London’s “Double Gallantry” group of superlative quality. As with so many of our WW1 heroes, Fred Cooper was obviously just glad to be back home and clearly never wore his medals and after over 100 years since their issue they remain in “superb as issued” condition, with original ribbons. The MM retains its fully prooflike and reflective surfaces under a glorious even and original patina.
A stunning group of a quality seldom encountered.
£2450
[THE MEDALS]
MILITARY MEDAL
4284 L.Cpl F.O. COOPER. 1/23 LOND. R.
London Gazette, 19th February 1917
London Gazette, 13th March 1918 (Bar)
1914-15 Star: 4284. Pte. F.O. COOPER. 23-LOND. R.
War & Victory: 4284. Sgt. F.O. COOPER. 23-LOND. R.
All Medals are in Superb Mint State.
This is an exceptionally desirable MM & Bar with 1914-15 Trio to a man in the greatly collected London Regiment, who survived over three years of major battles on the western front.
[1st/23rd LONDON Regiment]
The 1/23rd Londons fought in France and Flanders from March 1915 until the end of hostilities in 1918, and were involved in the major actions at Festubert, Loos, the Somme in 1916 and 1918, Messines, Ypres, Cambrai, Lille and Tournai.
The 1/23rd casualties were heavy, with 237 men being killed and 262 wounded at Givenchy during the Battle of Festubert alone. These casualties meant that they had lost almost exactly 50% of the unit’s strength in just 15 days from mid to late May 1915.
Thus, a new influx of men was badly needed which subsequently led to Fred Cooper and his fellow reinforcements arriving in France on 28th/29th October 1915 after the unit’s heavy losses at Givenchy during the Battle of Festubert. As detailed above, Fred’s obviously very gallant services included his participation in eight of the major battles of the Great War.
The fact that he survived at all is a near miracle in itself.
His first award of the Military Medal was won during the final weeks of the Battle of The Somme in late 1916 (London Gazette, 19th February 1917) with his Second award bar being awarded for his bravery during the world’s first tank battle at Cambria in November-December 1917. (London Gazette, 13th March 1918)
This is a classic and historically important London’s “Double Gallantry” group of superlative quality. As with so many of our WW1 heroes, Fred Cooper was obviously just glad to be back home and clearly never wore his medals and after over 100 years since their issue they remain in “superb as issued” condition, with original ribbons. The MM retains its fully prooflike and reflective surfaces under a glorious even and original patina.
A stunning group of a quality seldom encountered.
£2450