John Cook
Captain, Bengal Staff Corps and 5th Gurkha Rifles
- Register No.
- 246 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Bengal Staff Corps and 5th Gurkha Rifles all 5th Gurkha Rifles VCs →
- Date of action
- 2 December 1878 on this day → all of 1878 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Afghan War
- London Gazette
- 18th March 1879 on this day → all of 1879 →
- Born
- 28th August 1843 in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Died
- 19th December 1879 at Sherpur, Afghanistan
- Memorial / grave
- the Sanctum Crypt, St Luje's Church, Chelsea, London
Digest of citation
On 2 December 1878 at the Peiwar Kotal,* Captain Cook, through heavy fire, charged out of the entrenchments with such impetuosity that the enemy broke and fled.at the close of the mélée, seeing that a major was in personal conflict with an Afghan soldier, Captain Cook distracted attention to himself and a hand-to-hand encounter ensued, during which both men fell to the ground. The Afghan siezed the captain's arm in his teeth until the struggle was ended by the man being shot in the head
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
COOK,John (Reg. No.246)
Captain Bengal Staff Corps and 5th Gurkha Rifles.
London Gazetted on 18th March 1879.
Born on 28th August 1843 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Died on 19th December 1879 at Sherpur, Afghanistan.
Memorial in the Sanctum Crypt, St Luje's Church, Chelsea, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On 2 December 1878 at the Peiwar Kotal,* Captain Cook, through heavy fire, charged out of the entrenchments with such impetuosity that the enemy broke and fled.at the close of the mélée, seeing that a major was in personal conflict with an Afghan soldier, Captain Cook distracted attention to himself and a hand-to-hand encounter ensued, during which both men fell to the ground. The Afghan siezed the captain's arm in his teeth until the struggle was ended by the man being shot in the head.
*Afghan War.1878-79.
Additional information: Major Cook was the son of the Advocate and Sheriff, Alexander Shank Cook and the grand-son of the Doctor of Divinity, George Cook. (Church of Scotland.) Educated at Edinburgh Academy and at Addiscombe the military college. In 1861 he went to India and served in the 3rd Sikhs through the Unbeyla Campaign, during which he was mentioned in Despatches for leading a successful bayonet charge. After 10 years continual service he returned to his family home, where he spent a year on leave. In 1871 he returned to India, being promoted to Caotain one year later (1872). In 1873 he transferred to the 5th Gurkhas as a Wing Commander. He joined, with the 5th Gurkhas, the Kurram Field Force under General Roberts in 1878, where he won the VC (see Citation above). He went with Roberts to Kabul after the rebellion.... In 1879 he was made Bevet Major. During the attack on hill, near Kabul, known as the Takht-i-Shah Peak, he was wounded in the leg. His leg became gangrenous and he Died on the 19th of December 1879 at the age of 36. More to add.
Additional information
Major Cook was the son of the Advocate and Sheriff, Alexander Shank Cook and the grand-son of the Doctor of Divinity, George Cook. (Church of Scotland.) Educated at Edinburgh Academy and at Addiscombe the military college. In 1861 he went to India and served in the 3rd Sikhs through the Unbeyla Campaign, during which he was mentioned in Despatches for leading a successful bayonet charge. After 10 years continual service he returned to his family home, where he spent a year on leave. In 1871 he returned to India, being promoted to Caotain one year later (1872). In 1873 he transferred to the 5th Gurkhas as a Wing Commander. He joined, with the 5th Gurkhas, the Kurram Field Force under General Roberts in 1878, where he won the VC (see Citation above). He went with Roberts to Kabul after the rebellion.... In 1879 he was made Bevet Major. During the attack on hill, near Kabul, known as the Takht-i-Shah Peak, he was wounded in the leg. His leg became gangrenous and he Died on the 19th of December 1879 at the age of 36. More to add.
*Afghan War.1878-79.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: the Sanctum Crypt, St Luje's Church, Chelsea, London
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