Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1887-89 (Lt. Colonel F. Cochran 1st. Bn. Hamps. R.) good very fine £300-£400

Francis Cochran was commissioned Ensign in the 37th North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot on 8 July 1862, and was promoted Lieutenant on 31 May 1864, and Captain on 23 March 1866. He was appointed Brevet Major on 31 December 1878, and was confirmed in that rank on 1 July 1881, being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 21 April 1886.

‘In 1888, after succeeding to the command of the Regiment, Cochran had to take it to Madras en route for Upper Burma. The work there was very arduous, involving great responsibilities. It was the period after the taking of Mandalay. The whole country was in a state of ferment, and Colonel Cochran had the difficult task of organising columns to go out through the villages to capture the dacoits and subjugate the people. In 1895, Lord Wolsely paid him the following complement:
“If Burma is now comparatively quiet, it is thanks to men like Colonel Cochran, who took a distinguished pat in settling the Northern part of Burma, and in putting down dacoiting - a very difficult operation, because that species of occupation seems to be the instinct of the people.”
No mention of Colonel Cochran would be complete without an allusion to his wonderful feat while shooting in Burma of killing two wild elephants. He distinguished himself in sport of all kinds, including shooting for big game and the best of tiger, as well as Mahsia fishing.’ (the recipient’s obituary, taken from the Hampshire Regimental Journal, dated March 1914 refers).

Relinquishing his command of the Regiment in 1894, Cochran was latterly Deputy Judge Advocate, before retiring in 1902. He died on 6 February 1914.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.