Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (Corporal James Cook, 1st or Royal Dragoons.) fitted with fitted with replacement steel clip and later ring suspension, dark toned, fine or better £3,000-£3,600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Ron Wright.

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Provenance: Dixon’s Gazette, Autumn 2008.

James Cook was born in the Parish of Winterbourne, Berkshire, and attested for the 1st Dragoons at Marlborough, Wiltshire, on 16 February 1818, aged 18, a labourer by trade. He served in the Peninsula and at Waterloo, being promoted to Corporal shortly afterwards on 25 June 1815. He was discharged from the 1st Dragoons on 15 February 1818, but re-enlisted into te 3rd Light Dragoons on 8 October 1818, serving in this regiment until his final discharge on 31 March 1831, ‘at his own request with a modified Pension of ten pence per diem which he wishes to receive at Bath.’ His discharge papers state that he served ‘Five years in Spain & Portugal in the 1st Royal Dragoons during the War, and at Waterloo. Afterwards one year in France in the 3rd Lt. Dragoons with the Army of Occupation.’

James Cook is entitled to the M.G.S. medal for Fuentes D’Onor, Vittoria and Toulouse, 1st Dragoons Order of Merit (Balmer R31), and William IV L.S. & G.C. medal awarded in 1832 when he was serving in the 3rd Light Dragoons. Balmer incorrectly attributes another 1st Dragoons regimental medal to this man, awarded by Colonel Clifton to ‘Sergt Cook at Cork 17th Novr. 1827’. This cannot be the same man because James Cook left the 1st Dragoons for the 3rd Light Dragoons in 1818, never rose above the rank of Corporal in his former regiment, and served as a Private throughout his later service in the 3rd L.D. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.