SERGEANT R. COOK, 1ST EUROPEAN BENGAL FUSILIERS (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS) AND ROYAL ARTILLERY. Two: Indian Mutiny Medal, 1 clasp, Lucknow, Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

SERGEANT R. COOK, 1ST EUROPEAN BENGAL FUSILIERS (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS) AND ROYAL ARTILLERY. Two: Indian Mutiny Medal, 1 clasp, Lucknow (officially impressed: RICHd. COOK, 1st. EURn. BENGAL FUSrs) Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Victoria, type 3 (officially impressed: 5040. SERgt. R. COOK, C.B. R.A.). Attractively toned, some light contact marks, otherwise Good Very Fine.

Medal accompanied by photocopy of relevant extracts from Indian Mutiny medal roll confirming medal and clasp, along with 2 pages of photocopied service papers (medal roll confirms Lucknow clasp only, but service papers contain a manuscript note that Cooke also served in the operations before Delhi 1857), along with photocopied extracts from “The 1st Bengal European Fusiliers”, giving details of the regiment’s service during the Indian Mutiny.

Richard Cook was born in Lambeth, Surrey in 1837. He enlisted into the 1st European Bengal Fusiliers at Bristol on 22 October 1855 and arrived in India on 5th November 1856. He was promoted Corporal 22nd October 1858 and asked to be discharged, when given the option, when the armies of the East India Company were absorbed into the British Army. He returned to England where he subsequently enlisted into the Royal Artillery on 13 June 1860. On 13 August 1861 he was tried by Court Martial for the first and only time, and reduced from Bombardier. Returning to India he served for over 6 years, being promoted to Corporal in 1866 and Sergeant in 1868. He was awarded the Army L.S.& G.C. on 13 November 1878 and retired on a pension on 30 August 1882. At the time of discharge his character was described as being “very good” and he went to live in Brixton, London. Sergeant Cooke married Emily Withers at the parish church in Woolwich on 2nd November 1869, following his second return from service in India.