Four: Private T. Cooke, 13th Regiment of Foot

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (T. Cooke, 13th. Foot.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming; Ghuznee 1839, reverse engraved in serif capitals ‘Thos. Cooke 13th. P.A.L.I.’, with original silver straight bar suspension; Defence of Jellalabad 1842, Mural Crown, reverse engraved in serif capitals ‘Thos. Cooke 13th. P.A.L.I.’, with original silver clip and straight bar suspension; 13th Foot Regimental Medal of Merit for 14 Years Good Conduct, silver, reverse engraved in running script ‘Lt. Col. Robt. H. Sale to Pvt Thomas Cooke’, good very fine (4) £1,800-£2,200

Thomas Cooke was born in the Parish of Stanton, Leicestershire, in 1798, and attested for the 17th Regiment of Foot on 17 September 1817. Posted to the East Indies on 17 July 1818, he volunteered for the 13th Foot on 19 November 1822 and served during the Burmese Campaigns of 1824, 1825, and 1826 (one of two men of this name from the 13th Foot on the Army of India Roll for the clasp Ava), and later with the Army of the Indus during the Campaigns of 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841 and 1842. Present at the Storming of Ghuznee from 21 to 23 July 1839, Cooke witnessed the capture of the Fort and the restoration of the Shah of Afghanistan to his throne. He saw further action at the capture of the Forts of Tootim, Dumah and Gulgah in the Kohistan in 1840, and was present in several engagements in forcing the passes from Cabool to Jellalabad in 1841; and in the successful defence of the latter Fortress in 1841 and 1842 - which went a little way to restore the British reputation devastated by the Battles of Kabul and Gandamak.

Placed under the command of Captain Vigirs, Cooke fought in the engagement at Jellalabad on 7 April 1842 - which cost the lives of three Privates of the 13th Foot. He spent a further two years attempting to contain the Afghans and Ghilzai tribesmen before setting sail for Gravesend on 30 September 1843, after 27 years of service in Calcutta, Ava, Berhampore, Dinapore, Kermaul, Agra and Afghanistan. Cook was finally discharged at Chatham ‘unfit for further service’ on 13 August 1844.

Sold with copied service record and other research.