A Great War ‘Mesopotamian operations’ M.C. group of five awarded to Major K. E. Cooper, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry, awarded the M.C. for shooting four snipers with his revolver at the action at Querna, 7 December 1914

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; 1914-15 Star (Capt., 110/Mahratta L. Infy.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (Maj., M.C., 110/Mahrattas.) last with correction to unit, nearly very fine and better (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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M.C. London Gazette 20 October 1915.

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 April 1916 (Mespotamia).

Kenneth Edward Cooper was born on 13 July 1883. First commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Essex Regiment on 22 April 1903, he was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1905. In November 1907 he was appointed to the Indian Army as a Double Company Officer of the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry and during 1910-11 he also served as Adjutant of the Madras & Southern Mahratta Railway Volunteers. Promoted to Captain in July 1912. Serving in Mesopotamia with his regiment, he won the Military Cross for the action at Qurna, 7 December 1914. The regimental history records:

‘For the next two days - 5th and 6th December - No. 1 Double Company under Captain K. E. Cooper and No. 2 Double Company under Major H. C. Hill went out on reconnaissance towards Mazera and came under fire from Turkish guns. By the afternoon of the 6th, the 18th Brigade with the other three battalions had also arrived in camp. The information received during reconnaissance disclosed that the Turks had reoccupied Mazera. On the 7th December the force moved again with the Norfolks and the 120th leading the attack, while the 110th were to outflank the village on the right. The 104th and 7th Rajputs were in reserve. The attack commenced at mid-day over the open desert. The Marathas came under a heavy enfilade fire from concealed trenches on the right of the village but they rushed forward to the centre of the village where house-to-house fighting ensued. At this juncture Captain Cooper, leading one of the companies, saw a party of Turkish snipers to the rear of his men. He quickly climbed the wall of the ruined house from where they were firing and shot all four snipers with his revolver. The Marathas now took the upper hand and started searching the Turkish trenches. ....’

Cooper was promoted Major in April 1918 and Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1929. He was posted as Commandant of the 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry (formerly 110th Mahrattas) in 1930. Lieutenant-Colonel Cooper retired from the service on 1 August 1934. With a quantity of copied research.