Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Lieut. Cooke. Alexandra Md. Rifles) traces of lacquer, nearly extremely fine £1,400-£1,800

Approximately 30 Medals awarded to the Alexandra Mounted Rifles, 29 with clasp 1879, and one no clasp.

Lieutenant Cooke was appointed a Lieutenant in the Alexandra Mounted Rifles on 24 April 1876. The unit, 30 strong under the command of the the one-armed Captain W. T. Arbuthnot, formed part of Pearson’s Column during the first invasion of Zululand, seeing action at the Battle of Inyenzane on 22 January 1879. Following news of the disaster at Isandhlwana being received, the Alexandra Mounted Rifles and all other Colonial Units were hurried back to Natal to guard the border against Zulu incursions, and they remained so employed for the rest of the War.

Cooke was awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal per Natal Government Gazette of 14 January 1896.

Sold with copied medal roll extract and other research.