The Donald G. Mellen Collection

Eight: Electrical Lieutenant-Commander J. W. Cooper, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (M.944 E.A.3, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.944 C.E.R.A.2, R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Warrant Electn., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (M.944 C.E.A.1, H.M.S. Excellent) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising, good fine and better (8) £260-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Donald G. Mellen Collection.

View
Collection

James William Cooper was born in Gillingham, Kent on 26 June 1888. An Electrical Fitter by occupation, enlisted into the Royal Navy as an Acting Electrician 4th Class in March 1909. He was confirmed in that rating in June 1910 and promoted to Electrician 3rd Class in March 1913 and Electrical Artificer 2nd Class in March 1916. He served on the pre-dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Albemarle, November 1913-September 1916, seeing service with the Channel Fleet and Grand Fleet. During January-September 1916 she was based at the North Russian port of Murmansk as guardship and icebreaker. The battleship returned to the U.K. in September 1916 for a refit and Cooper next served ashore at H.M.S. Lucia, October 1916-September 1918, being advanced to Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class in April 1917 and was confirmed in that rank in April 1918. Promoted to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class in April 1923. Cooper was appointed a Commissioned Electrician in June 1936 and an Electrical Lieutenant in April 1937. He retired in June 1938 but was recalled for the Second World War and retired as an Electrical Lieutenant-Commander in 1947. He died in October 1954. With copied (faint) service papers.