Lot 228: A First and Second World War Service Group and Ephemera Archive to Engineman Robert Thomas Augustus Cooper, Royal Naval Reserve

A comprehensive service group and personal archive belonging to Engineman Robert Thomas Augustus Cooper, who served in the Royal Naval Reserve. The collection includes a Great War trio consisting of a 1914-15 Star, a British War Medal 1914-18, and a Victory Medal. The 1914-15 Star is impressed to the reverse E. S. 1648, R. T. A. COOPER, ENGN., R. N. R. and retains its original silk ribbon. The silver British War Medal is impressed to the edge 1648 E. S. R. T. A. COOPER. ENGN. R. N. R., and the Victory Medal is similarly impressed R. T. A. COOPER. ENGN. R. N. R. Also included is a Second World War Defence Medal, unnamed as issued, housed in its original cardboard box with a corresponding ribbon bar.

Accompanying the medals is a significant quantity of service documents and personal effects. These include a Royal Naval Reserve Certificate of Service and Discharge (Form R.V. 8f) for Robert Thomas Augustus Cooper, recording his service from 24th December 1914 to 20th February 1919 with a character assessment of Very Good. A Protection and Identity Certificate dated May 1923 confirms his entitlement to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. Further documents include a Naval Savings Bank Book (D.-573) for account 13393, noting service aboard H.M. Ship Island Prince and Jupiter, and a United States Declaration of Intention for naturalisation dated 1921, stating Cooper was born in North Shields in 1890. The archive also contains a U.S. Alien Seaman’s Identification Card, an Unemployed Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Donation card, and various handwritten references.

Personal items within the lot comprise a Princess Mary Christmas 1914 gift tin, constructed from embossed brass with the profile of Princess Mary to the lid, and a heavy cribbage board made of brass and wood, appearing to be of shipboard construction.