A Great War 1918 M.M. awarded to Private A. E. Cooper, 1/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (Territorial Force), who charged and captured an enemy machine gun and its team on 29 September 1918 at Magny La Fosse village during the Battle of Bellenglise

Military Medal G.V.R. (242310 Pte. A. E. Cooper. 5/Linc: R.) nearly very fine £260-£300

M.M. London Gazette 14 May 1919.

Albert Edward Cooper, a native of Spalding, Lincolnshire attested for the Lincolnshire Regiment shortly after the outbreak of the Great War, and served with the 1/4th Battalion (Territorial Force) on the Western Front from 25 June 1915. He later transferred to the 1/5th Battalion with which he was serving when he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry during the Battle of Bellenglise. The general background being that on 29 September 1918, the 46th Division, of which the 1/5th Lincolnshire were a component battalion, was ordered to cross the St. Quentin Canal, capture the Hindenburg Line and advance to positions beyond and consolidate them for defence. The 1/5th Lincolnshire’s specific objective being to capture the village of Magny La Fosse and the high ground beyond.

The History of the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment by T. E. Sandall describes this action:
‘At 12.30 p.m. the Battalion advanced from this line under a creeping barrage which advanced 100 yards in 4 minutes, to Magny La Fosse village, flanking troops simultaneously advancing on our right and left. At this point, where the barrage was picked up, four tanks who were co-operating in the attack, moved forward with the Battalion. The right Company followed its tank, which moved forward along a trench system, successfully cleared the trench and ground and reached its objective without very much opposition. The centre Company sent two platoons to encircle the village on the south side, while two platoons moved through the village itself. The left Company moved forward and reached its objective without much opposition.’

Sandall goes on to detail three specific acts of gallantry at the capture of Magny La Fosse which led to awards, including that of Cooper:
‘Private A. Cooper, in command of a section, located a machine gun, which was causing casualties, led his section to a flank, charged the position and captured the gun with its team.‘

Cooper was discharged on demobilisation on 8 February 1919.