Orders, Decorations and Medals

A very rare Great War M.B.E., D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Cole, Indian Army Service Corps, late Mule Corps, taken prisoner at the fall of Kut in April 1916

The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 1st type; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (Sub. Condr., S. & T. Corps.) naming correctly engraved in running script; 1914-15 Star (Sub. Condr., S. & T. Corps.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Condr., S & T.C.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Cond., S & T. Cps.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Sub.-Condr., 30/Mule Corps) mounted ‘Court’ style as worn, light contact wear, otherwise good very fine (7) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late John Cooper.

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See Colour Plate III

M.B.E. London Gazette 5 May 1919.

D.C.M. London Gazette 12 December 1917. No published citation. One of only 46 D.C.M’s awarded to the Indian Army during the Great War.

M.I.D. 1 January 1916 (General Nixon) and 17 January 1916 (Major General Townshend).

The group is sold with a quantity of original documents, including two M.I.D. certificates; M.B.E. Warrant 1919; warrant of appointment as Sub-Conductor 1909; two commission documents, 1926 and 1927; three postcard photographs including Cole, and another of the Australian Hospital Ship Kanowna in which Cole and other British POW’s returned from Turkey, this signed by several crew members; two contemporary notes giving details of the surrender of the besieged garrison at Kut in April 1916, and two letters of congratulation on promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1930. See Lot 281 for the medals awarded to his son, Wing Commander R. B. Cole, D.F.C., A.F.C.