An interesting Boer War pair awarded to Private C. Cooke, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, a colourful character who had served in the Sudanese War of 1896-98 before serving in the Boer War in South Africa. His entitlement to medals for the Sudanese campaign being revoked as a result of one of two long periods of desertion for which he would imprisoned. He would also later be convicted of breaking out of camp whilst in South Africa and for ‘very improper conduct’.
Pair: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 5 Clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast; with faint ghost dates to reverse; (4937 PTE. C. COOKE. GREN:GDS.) King’s South Africa 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (4937 PTE. C. COOKE. GRENADIER GUARDS.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
Charles Cooke was born in Farnham, Aldershot, Hampshire and attested into the Grenadier Guards on 31st July 1894 with whom he served until 8th April 1896 when he deserted. He rejoined over a year later on 22nd November 1897 and would be court-martialled on 30th November 1897 being convicted of desertion and imprisoned for 56 days. Having completed his sentence he would return to duty on 25th January 1898. Managing to serve for just over a year including in Egypt and the Sudan from 19th July to 7th October 1898, he deserted again on 30th May 1899, not rejoining until 12th October 1899. Shortly afterwards he would again be court-martialled and convicted, this time receiving a sentence of 84 days imprisonment.
Having been returned to duty on 9th January 1900, he would see service in South Africa during the Boer War with 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards and was present on operations in the Cape Colony and Orange Free State, and in action at Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast.
He would be convicted and imprisoned for 56 days on 7th October 1901 for having broken out of camp whilst on active service, returning to duty on 21st December 1901, he lasted only a short period of 10 days before again finding himself imprisoned for ‘very improper conduct’.
He would finally be transferred to the Reserve on 1st February 1903 and discharged on 16th October 1911.
Cooke’s entitlement to a Sudan Medal and Khedive’s Sudan Medal were forfeited due to his desertion and this is noted on his papers. This thus, his full entitlement.
