Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Star (9352 C.Q.M. Sjt. J. T. Cooper, Worc. R.) extremely fine £50-70

James Thomas Cooper was born in the Parish of Lye, near Stonebridge, Worcestershire. As a Serjeant in the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, he served in the Second Boer War and was awarded the Queen’s medal with clasps for Cape Colony and Wittebergen and the King’s medal with two clasps. He attested for the Army Reserve (Special Reserve) at Worcester on 16 September 1914, then aged over 41 years. Serving with the Worcestershire Regiment, he was immediately promoted to Company Quartermaster Serjeant. In March 1915 he was ranked as a Company Serjeant-Major/Warrant Officer Class II. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 22 September 1915 and remained there until 9 November 1915; after which he served with the Mediterranean Field Force, 10 November 1915-11 February 1916.

Warrant Officer Cooper was tried by Field General Court Martial in Salonika on 20 December 1915. He was charged with drunkenness when on active service, as Battalion Orderly Serjeant at Laina, on 15 December 1915. Being found guilty he was reduced to the ranks. On 1 January 1916 Private Cooper embarked on H.M.T. Folkestone for England. He was discharged at the Regiment Depot ‘his services being no longer required’ on 26 February 1916. His discharge papers said of him, ‘He spoilt a good & promising career by misbehaviour on active service and reduced to the ranks from Coy. Sergt. Major.’

With damaged card box of issue for the 1914-15 Star and copied roll extracts, m.i.c. and service papers.