Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Thos. Cooke, Caulker’s Mte. H.M.S. Rapid.) impressed naming, very fine £80-£100

Thomas Cooke was born at Milton Abbot, Devon, on 6 January 1857, and joined the Royal Navy as a Carpenter on 13 February 1878, aboard H.M.S. Indus. He afterwards served as Carpenter’s Crew in the following ships in succession: Invincible, Royal Adelaide, Indus, Belleisle, Hecate, Belleisle, and Indus. Advanced to Caulker’s Mate on 9 September 1884, when he joined Rapid, receiving his L.S. & G.C. medal in this ship when paid off in April 1888. He afterwards served in the same rate aboard Thalia and Indus until 25 November 1888, when he was invalided to shore and out of the Navy.