Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

The campaign group of three to Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Cook, 3rd Sikh Infantry, brother of John Cook V.C., severely wounded at Arghandi and himself recommended for the Victoria Cross

(a) Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Ali Musjid, Kabul, Kandahar (Lt. W. Cook, 3rd Sikh Infy.)

(b) Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Lieut. W. Cook, 3rd Sikh Infantry

(c) India General Service 1854-94, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-87, Burma 1887-89 (Captain W. Cook, S.C.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine
£2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

View
Collection

Walter Cook, the son of Alexander Shank Cook of Edinburgh, and his wife Jane Stirling, was appointed Lieutenant in the Indian Staff Corps on 10 September 1875, and served through the first campaign of the Second Afghan War with the Khyber Field Force, being present at capture of Ali Musjid and the forcing of Sissobai Pass. In the second campaign he served as Quartermaster took part in the defence of the Shutargardan Pass under Lieutenant-Colonel G. N. Money (qv) and especially distinguished himself at the latter place on 14 October. On 28 February 1880, Colonel Money wrote: -

‘1. When forwarding my report of the action at Shutargardan of the 14th October, and bringing specially to the notice of the Lieutenant-General Commanding the conduct of Lieutenant W. Cook, 3rd Sikhs, I was not aware that it was within my province to recommend an officer for the Victoria Cross.
2. Great delay has also been occasioned in obtaining a statement from Captain Waterfield, Royal Artillery, who was the only eye-witness of the acts of gallantry for which I brought Lieutenant Cook to notice, and for which I would now beg to recommend him for the Victoria Cross.
3. The circumstances, which I hope may be considered to justify my recommendations, were as follows: -
The enemy occupied an excessively strong position on a rocky ridge, on the edge of which they had thrown up breastworks. The approach was difficult and almost precipitous, affording scarcely any cover. A combined attack was made upon them by three companies 21st Punjab Native Infantry on the left, and two companies 3rd Sikhs on the right - the latter under command of Captain Waterfield, who was serving as a volunteer - with whom was Lieutenant Cook.
Captain Waterfield and Lieutenant Cook, with a few men, had got up to within 120 yards of the crest. Here a check occurred, and Captain Waterfield said to Lieutenant Cook that it was impossible to make a final charge unless a simultaneous charge was made by the 21st, and [Cook] ran across under a very heavy fire. He had to go about 200 yards, and returned the same way; just after his return Captain Waterfield was shot through the thigh. Lieutenant Cook again went off, under a heavy fire, to bring up a dooly. Having given the order, he returned to his post, and when, shortly afterwards, the enemy’s position was carried, he led his men on in the most gallant way.
4. Lieutenant Cook’s action in taking the message to the 21st was purely voluntary, as a written message could have been sent by one of the men; but he thought he would be able to explain the situation better himself. During the time passing to and from, he was never more, often less, than 120 yards from the enemy, who kept up a heavy fire on him. When afterwards going for a dooly for Captain Waterfield, although going to the rear 200 yards, he was under a heavy fire, both going and returning.
5. Captain Waterfield’s statement is very lengthy, the following extracts contain the main facts of the case: -
‘I pointed out to Lieutenant Cook that it was no use attacking with our numbers unless we could get the 21st to co-operate. Lieutenant Cook at once ran across himself under heavy fire; the ridge was crowded with men, 1500 to 2000, I believe, was the estimate, and they kept changing places to fire and load. Lieutenant Cook came back of course under the same fire. Just on his return I was shot while kneeling. He said ‘lie still and I will get a dooly for you,’ and ran off to the rear; the fire was then heavier than before.’



In spite of Money’s lengthy recommendation, the Victoria Cross was not forthcoming but Cook’s gallantry was , however, officially recorded by the Adjutant-General in India.

On 15 October 1879, Cook was despatched by Money to successfully withdraw the garrison of the Surkai Post after the enemy received strong reinforcememnts. After the Shutgardan was abandoned on the 30th, Cook was reunited with his brother Major John Cook, V.C., at Kabul, and on 10 December both brothers marched out with their respective regiments in Brigadier-General Macpherson’s brigade to a camp on the Arghandi road, seven miles from the Sherpur Cantonment. On 10 December, Walter Cook was involved in the the fight at Surkh Kotal, and next day distinguished himself in the rear guard action under Major Griffiths, 3rd Sikhs, by which the brigade’s baggage was saved.

‘The left wing under Major Griffiths was at this time hastening past the line of baggage, when it was observed that a large force of the enemy were coming down from the right on the baggage, driving a squadron of the 14th Bengal Lancers before them. The enemy occupied a line of ditches and willows close to the road and opened a heavy fire. Major Griffiths now determined to engage the enemy and save the baggage. A company (with a support) under Lieutenant Cook attacked and drove back the advanced parties, the remaining companies extending occupied positions, engaging the enemy and protecting the road till the baggage had all passed and the rear guard of 2 companies, 5th Goorkhas, under Brevet-Major J. Cook, V.C., came up. The engagement then became a rear guard action lasting about 3 hours, the enemy on several occasions coming to close quarters and being driven back only by counter charges with the bayonet, in one of which Lieutenant Cook was severely wounded in the chest by an Enfield bullet, and Major Cook, V.C., of the 5th Goorkhas, was stunned by a blow on the head, his pistol having missed fire. Subadar Suhail Sing was wounded, 6 men of the Regiment and 4 of the 5th Goorkhas were killed or wounded, and the steadiness of the men was most praiseworthy, and not a single baggage animal was lost. The bulk of the enemy were men of the trained Ardal Regiment [which had attacked Cavagnari and his Guides escort] armed with Enfields and engaged our men in regular formation with supports.’

Major John Cook was wounded again on the Takht-i-Shah peak on the 12th, and later succumbed to the wound at Sherpur. Many years later Walter Cook recalled: ‘I had been wounded on the 11th in a rear guard action, covering General Mapherson’s Brigade, in close company with John, and indeed under his immediate command, with detachments of the 3rd Sikhs and 5th Gurkhas ... After the action, on meeting Dr. Maloney, of the 3rd Sikhs, who diagnosed a gunshot wound affecting the left lung, I was ordered into a stretcher, and with a guard of four Sikhs, was carried into Sherpur through the city. On the road, we met a small party of the enemy. The Sikhs fixed bayonets and the two parties, drawing to opposite sides of the road, passed each other without trouble. Later, on learning that John’s wound had taken a bad turn, I had myself carried down to the Field Hospital on several occasions to see him and was with him when he died.’

On 24 February 1880, Walter Cook, having recovered from his wound, was appointed Officiating Adjutant with effect from 12 December 1879, but on a further reshuffle on 12 March he was appointed Wing Officer, vice Major Aislabie (qv). He participated in the march from Kabul to Kandahar, and fought in the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880, where his horse was wounded during the defeat of Ayub Khan. In October and November he served in the Marri expedition as Adjutant. Promoted Captain on 10 September 1886, he was appointed Commandant in January 1887 of a specially raised Military Police Battalion for service in Upper Burma. He became the Commandant of the 30th Native Infantry in February 1892, and was advanced to the rank of Major in September 1895 and Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1898. Colonel Walter Cook was still living in 1940.

Refs: Historical Records of the 3rd Sikh Infantry, 1847-1930; Forty-One Years in India (Roberts); The Afghan Campaign of 1878-1880 (Shadbolt); The Second Afghan War (Hanna).