Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The Great War ‘Serbian Retreat’ D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Commander M. E. Cochrane, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (Sub. Lieut. M. E. Cochrane, R.N., H.M.S. Centurion); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Lieut. M. E. Cochrane, R.N., H.M.S. Mohawk); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. M. E. Cochrane. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals Commr. M. E. Cochrane. R.N.; Jubilee 1897, silver; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, 5th Class breast badge, gold and enamels, enamel damage to centres of cross; Serbia, Order of the White Eagle, 2nd issue, 4th Class breast badge with swords, silver-gilt and enamels, slight enamel damage, mounted for wear, 1914-15 Star sometime gilded, otherwise good very fine and better (9) £2,600-£3,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Collection

R. C. Witte Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2007.

D.S.O. London Gazette 14 July 1916. ‘In recognition of their services in connection with the evacuation of the Serbian Army and Italian troops from Durazzo in Dec. 1915, and Jan. and Feb. 1916.’ The recommendation states: ‘Second in Command of the British Adriatic drifters. Was in charge of the drifters covering the evacuation of the Italian troops from Durazzo, the operation taking place in bad weather & under fire from the shore’.

Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Chevalier London Gazette 9 May 1916.

Order of the White Eagle, 4th Class London Gazette 1 March 1917.

Morris Edward Cochrane was born in 1879, the youngest son of J. H. Cochrane and Charlotte Newton. He entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet on 15 January 1893. He was appointed a Midshipman in February 1895 and was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in August 1898. During the China War of 1900 he served in the Seymour Expedition to Pekin, and on 9 November 1900 he was promoted to Lieutenant for his services in China. He later served in Somaliland and was mentioned in despatches. He was advanced to Lieutenant-Commander in November 1908 and Commander in May 1919. For his services in the Great War he was awarded the D.S.O., the Italian Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus and the Serbian Order of the White Eagle. Sold with copied service papers and other research.