Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Battle of Montbrehain’ M.M. group of nine awarded to Corporal W. S. Cooper, 21st Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, a veteran of Gallipoli who was wounded in action on the Western Front, 22 December 1916. He re-engaged for service during the Second War, and served as a Sergeant with the 1st Corps Provost Company in the Middle East. Cooper was commissioned Lieutenant and subsequently served with the Australian Army Military Prison and Detention Barrack Service

Military Medal, G.V.R. (358 Pte W. S. Cooper. 21/Aust: Inf:); 1914-15 Star (358 Pte W. S. Cooper 21/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (358 Cpl W. S. Cooper. 21 Bn. A.I.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, Second War medals officially impressed ‘VX15728 W. S. Cooper’, mounted for display, light contact marks overall, therefore nearly very fine better (9) £700-£900

M.M. London Gazette 3 July 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘Near Montbrehain, East of Peronne, on the morning of 5th October 1918, this NCO set a splendid example of gallantry and devotion to duty. For twelve hours, under heavy and continuous shell fire, he carried out his allotted work of dressing and attending to the wounded. The celerity and skill which he displayed were of great assistance to the Regimental Medical Officer in the rapid evacuation of casualties. His example stimulated the men working under him with very good results, whilst his cheerful demeanour under all conditions greatly enheartened the wounded under his care.’

Walter Sydney Cooper was born in Beechwood, Victoria in 1892. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne, 30 March 1915. Cooper travelled with the 21st Australian Infantry Battalion to Egypt in June 1915, and from there embarked on the S.S. Scotland for Mudros. The latter was torpedoed with the survivors making it to Mudros, 2 September 1915. Cooper served with the Battalion in Gallipoli from 7 September 1915. Having been evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1916, Cooper served in the French theatre of war from March 1916.

Cooper was wounded in action, 22 December 1916. He was detached for service with the 6th Field Ambulance, and Ambulance detail with the 7th Field Company, Engineers between September 1917 - September 1918. Cooper returned to his parent unit and was awarded the M.M. for the Battle of Montbrehain, 5 October 1918 - the last action involving Australian infantry on the Western Front. He returned to the 6th Field Ambulance, and was attached for service with the 24th Australian Infantry Battalion from November 1918.

Cooper returned to Australia in August 1919, and was discharged in August of the same year. After the war he was employed as a Warder in the Prison Service at H.M. Gaol, Bendigo. Cooper re-engaged for service as a Corporal during the Second War in May 1940. He served as a Sergeant with the 1st Corps Provost Company in the Middle East, and returned to Australia in June 1941. Cooper was commissioned Lieutenant in the Australian Army Military Prison and Detention Barrack Service, and discharged in July 1945. He died in August 1970.