Medal & Mortality index
The Military Cross was instituted as a Decoration on December 28th, 1914, to
reward Distinguished Services rendered by Officers of certain ranks in the army
in time of war. Bars may be added for additional acts of gallantry. Since August
1st, 1918, it has, like the D.S.O., been awarded for "services in action" only.
Since the 1st July the Battalion had received some very valuable reinforcements
of officers which repaired the deficiencies caused by the battle, as follows :
7th August— 2/Lieuts. C. W. Denning, M.M., S. J. Barkworth, M.M., E. McD.
McCormiek, T. B. Cooper, M.M., W. H. Davey, D.C.M., C. F. Mortleman commissioned
direct from the l/20th Londons.
#
BATTLES OF THE SOMME, 1916 :
Darkness had now fallen, and the position of the companies in the advanced
trench was far from happy. Both flanks were in the air and heavy losses had been
suffered ; of the officers who had started with these companies, only four —
Cooper, McCormick, Quennell and Burford — were still standing. News from Garratt
showed that he was doubtful as to whether he could hold out against another
attack.
Fearing to lose the advantage already gained. Cooper, who had assumed command of
the force in Beef Trench, decided to reoccupy Bully temporarily, and finally
clear it of the enemy. The withdrawal was successfully accomplished in the dark,
but the enemy was found to be firmly established with an apparently ample supply
of bombs on his side of the block, which had now been completed with the help of
the Kensington and Ranger reinforcements ; and further attempts to extend our
gains northward in Bully were abandoned. Communication being now re-established
with Battalion Headquarters, orders were received in Bully for the reoccupation
of the advanced positions in Beef ; and the Bully position being now much
strengthened by Rangers and Kensingtons, the l/4th Londons moved forward alone
to Beef Trench.
During the remainder of the night a good deal of work was necessary in
reorganising the somewhat mixed force by which the forward position was now
occupied. One or two enemy patrols approached the position but were fired on and
dispersed, and apart from continued shell fire and sniping the night passed
comparatively peacefully.
Captain Cooper gives the following account of a remarkable incident which
occurred during the night : —
A glow was seen in a shell hole some distance to the front and on investigation
this proved to be from the cigarette of a battalion N.C.O., a corporal
(Fergusson), who had formed part of one of the forward posts. He had become
separated from his men and wounded in the back so that he was unable to walk. He
stated that he had been uncertain of his position and so had crawled into a
shell hole. A Bosche patrol had found him and removed his shoulder badges and
taken the contents of his pockets, but had propped him up in a comfortable
position and had left him his water-bottle, cigarettes and matches. He was
calmly and coolly enjoying a cigarette when found. He was sent on a stretcher to
the Aid Post.
#
Battle of Morval, 25th September :
The advance of the Battalion was led by C Company (Grimsdell) in two waves at 50
paces distance, followed by D Company (Cooper) in similar formation. B Company's
role was to conform to the advance and protect the Brigade's right flank against
any possible hostile action from the southern half of Bouleaux Wood, while A
Company in reserve moved forward to occupy the positions vacated by the
assaulting companies.
#
In the support area Headquarters and B Company (Spicer) were in a 30-foot
railway cutting in rear of Bailleul, while A (H. N. Williams), C (Barkworth) and
D (Cooper) were in the Red line. Christmas day, which was fortunately not marked
by hostile activity, was spent in these positions and by means of numerous small
parties in the Red line the troops were able to get as much enjoyment out of it
as the circumstances permitted, but the festivity was rather damped by the death
of 2 /Lieut. E. L. Stuckey, a keen and promising officer, who was killed by a
stray shell in the Red line.
#
DEFENCE OF ARRAS 1918
We must now turn for a moment to the course of events in the rearward area. The
enemy's preparatory bombardment had fallen heavily on Bow Trench, but the
garrison (D Company, Cooper) was kept in dugouts, sentries being changed each
half-hour, and few casualties were sustained. At 5 a.m. the blocks in Ouse Alley
were lowered, and rum and extra S.A.A. issued to the men. On the S.O.S. signal
being received the trench was manned ; and at the same time Lieut. -Col.
Marchment sent the Headquarter Company round to join D Company, retaining with
him only a few signallers to work the line, two clerks and a few scouts, in
addition to Boutall (Adjutant), Lorden (Works Officer) and Padre Green " to
create a calm atmosphere." Lorden was hit here at about 7.45 a.m.
At about 4 p.m. the enemy began to shell the Red line rather heavily, but no
infantry attack matured. Shortly afterwards the l/4th Londons were withdrawn,
and by 6 p.m. were under cover of the Railway Embankment north-east of Bailleul,
reorganised in two companies (Cooper and Williams). S.A.A. was replenished and
arrangements made to man the Brown line and posts south of the Bailleul Road
should the enemy break through the Red line. Bow Trench had been handed over to
the London Scottish.
Decorations were awarded to the following :
Lieut.-Col. A. F. Marchment, M.C., and Major F. A. Phillips, the D.S.O. ; Capts.
A. M. Duthie, D.S.O., T. B. Cooper, M.M., and H. N. Williams, the M.C. ; O.S.M.
T. Lock, M.M., the D.C.M. ; L.-Corpl. W. J. Hutchin, M.M., Bar to M.M. ; Sergts.
F. G. Udall, H. V. R. Randall and C. J. Gibbs, Corpls. G. Hayes and A. Parker,
L.-Corpls. S. G. Coates, C. L. Husk and A. J. Deadman, and Ptes. W. A. G.
Battershall, P. C. Swinchatt, A. J. Sellars and J. R. Phillips, the M.M.
##
Arriving at Mont St Eloy early in the morning of the 31st March 1918 :
This great accession enabled an immediate reconstruction of the four companies
to take place, and they were accordingly reformed and the reinforcements
absorbed, A Company under Capt. H. N. Williams, M.C., B under Capt. R. S. B.
Simmonds, C under Capt. S. J. Barkworth, M.C., M.M., and D under Capt. T. B.
Cooper, M.C., M.M.
The few days' rest obtained here were passed pleasantly amid fine weather in
refitting and reorganisation ; and the Battalion was fortunately able on the 4th
September to commemorate the fourth anniversary of its departure from England.
Companies were now commanded as follows : A by Capt. H. N. Williams, M.C. ; B by
Capt. L. L. Watts, M.M. ; C by Capt. C. L. Henstridge, M.C. ; and D by Capt. T.
B. Cooper, M.C, M.M.
#
Battles of Cambrai and The Sambre, 1918 - the 28th September:
At 9.30 a.m. D Company, with one platoon of A Company attached, began the
advance northward to Palluel in the narrow gut of land between the Canal and the
marshes and ponds of the Hirondelle River. Lieut.-Col. Marchment, 2/Lieut.
Bullock, Sergts. Randall and Heyes and a few signallers followed in the attack,
communication with Headquarters being maintained by a running wire all the way.
Very little opposition was met with, and Capt. Cooper, with Lieut. Fletcher and
2/Lieut. Millstead, was soon established on the bridges at Palluel, where touch
was gained with C Company and with patrols of the 8th Middlesex (167th Brigade)
which occupied the village and advanced beyond it towards Arleux.
#
Lieut.-Col. Marchment was now in command of the 168th Brigade, General Loch
having gone to hospital, and the Battalion was temporarily under Major R. B.
Marshall, with Captain T. B. Cooper, M.C., M.M., acting as second in command.
Battalion Headquarters opened in Aulnoy.
#
1919
By the beginning of May the Battalion was reduced to Cadre strength, about 50
all ranks, Lieut. -Col. Marchmont, D.S.O., M.C., remaining in command, with
Major T. B. Cooper, M.C., M.M., second in command.
Mention in Despatches
Lieut. (A/Capt.) T. B. Cooper, M.M ; London Gazette 24.12.17
Military Cross
Lieut. (A/Capt.) T. B. Cooper, M.M ; London Gazette 22. 6.18
Bar to Military Cross
Lieut. (A/Capt.) T. B. Cooper, M.C, M.M. ; London Gazette 2. 4.19