Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. Cook-Young, Indian Medical Service

Tibet 1903-04, 1 clasp, Gyantse (Captn. A. W. Cook Young, I.M.S.); 1914-15 Star (Maj. A. W. Cook-Young, I.M.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. A. W. C. Young) good very fine (4) £900-1200

Andrew Watson Cook-Young was born on 25 February 1876, and qualified as Bachelor of Medicine, with a Diploma in Surgery, at Aberdeen in March 1898. He was appointed to the Indian Medical Service as a Lieutenant on 29 January 1901, being attached to the 31st Punjab Infantry in July 1901. He took part in the Tibet Expedition of 1903-04, including operations at and around Gyantse, 3 May to 6 July 1904, and the march to Lhasa. Whilst at Lhasa he was severely wounded when, in company with Captain Kelly, he was attacked by a fanatical lama. His wound was reported in a telegram from the Viceroy to the Secretary of State for India, dated Simla 26 August 1904:

‘Tibet. Macdonald reports Captains T. B. Kelly and A. W. C. Young, Indian Medical Service, attacked 18th August at Camp entrance by a lama - Kelly wounded slightly in hand, and Young wounded severely in head, sword cuts. Macdonald considers only isolated case of fanaticism. Assailant captured and hanged; four hostages demanded by Younghusband from monasteries, and fine of Rupees 5,000 inflicted.’ These were the last significant casualties of the Tibet campaign.

In consequence of his wounds Captain Cook-Young went on leave to England on medical certificate from October 1904 until October 1906. During this period he gained a Diploma in Tropical Medicine with distinction. He was appointed to the 24th Punjabis, as Medical Officer, in October 1905, and promoted to Major in July 1912. During the Great War he served in Russia 1914, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1916, and Iraq 1916-17. He was promoted brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1916 and mentioned in despatches for services in Iraq London Gazette 19 October 1916. After the war he was officer commanding Indian Station Hospitals at Nowshera, Meerut and Saugor. He went on leave from India in January 1926, retired on 29 January 1928, and died at Aberdeen on 7 February 1928.