Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Egypt, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo (J. J. Cochrane, Capt. 3rd Ft. Gds.) minor edge bruising, good very fine £2200-2600

Ex Glendining’s, February 1911 and February 1927; Sotheby, June 1984. A unique clasp combination for the M.G.S. medal.

James Johnstone Cochrane was the son of Hon. John Cochrane, 3rd surviving son of Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald. He was first commissioned as an Ensign in the 8th West India Regiment and thence into the 3rd Foot Guards on 26 December 1799, and served with the regiment in the expedition to Egypt in 1801. The regiment was the first to land on the invasion beaches at Aboukir Bay in March 1801 and suffered heavy casualties. He was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1804 and, in 1809, served on the staff of the Severn District as Brigade Major to General Champagne, and took part in the Walcheren expedition later that year. He served in the Peninsula from October 1810 and was present at the battle of Fuentes D’Onor and the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo. He returned home in April 1812 and was promoted to Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel in December of the same year, and to Major & Colonel in July 1821. He retired as Lieutenant-Colonel in 1827 and died at Bathford, near Bath, on 24 January 1852, aged 70.