Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Colonel Ernest Cooke, 2nd Scottish Rifles, who commanded the regiment in South Africa including the action at Spion Kop

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (Lt. Col. E. Cooke. Scottish. Rifles.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Col. E. Cooke. Scot. Rif.) extremely fine (2) £1800-2200

Ernest Cooke was born in 1856 and was commissioned into the 26th Foot on 15 July 1876. He served initially with the 1st Battalion,. becoming Captain in 1883 and Major in 1892. He was appointed to the command of the 2nd Battalion in April 1899 and took the Battalion to South Africa, embarking on 28 October 1899. The Battalion formed part of the 4th Brigade in the advance towards the relief of Ladysmith. The 4th Brigade played a supportive role in an attack on Colenso, covering the withdrawal of the 2nd Brigade, commanded by Sir Redvers Buller, who suffered over 1,100 casualties.

The 2nd Scottish Rifles played a vital role in the Battle of Spion Kop on the 23rd and 24th January 1900. Spion Kop was the largest hill in the region, and its capture represented a significant victory over the Boers and a step towards relieving besieged British forces in Ladysmith. Over 1,700 of the defeated British forces were killed or wounded, including 26 dead and 61 wounded from the Scottish Rifles. In his list of commendations, dated 30th March 1900, General Buller noted that Lieutenant Colonel Cooke “commands an admirably trained battalion”; he was again mentioned by Buller in his despatch of 9th November, 1900 (Brevet of Colonel; Queen’s Medal with 4 clasps, King’s Medal with 2 clasps).