Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private J. Cook, Royal Fusiliers, late Royal Field Artillery

Military Medal, G.V.R. (G.77546 Pte., 2/R. Fus.) slight edge bruising, very fine £200-240

M.M. London Gazette 14 May 1919.

Driver J. Cook, R.F.A came from St Helens, Merseyside and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 4 September 1915. He then transferred to the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers.

The 2nd Royal Fusiliers required reinforcements as they had suffered heavily in Gallipoli. As part of 86 Brigade, 29th Division, the Battalion fought until the Armistice and were one of the battalions which led the advance into Germany. In 1916 they fought on the Somme; in 1917 they fought in the Third Battle of Ypres and Cambrai, and in 1918 in the Battle of the Lys. It was possibly for one of these latter battles that Private Cook was awarded the Military Medal. With some research.