CAPTAIN LIONEL GEORGE JAMES SMITH COOKE, DCM

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Distinguished Conduct Medal (Vict.) Sgt. L. Cook, Bechuanaland Rifles; 
QSA 2 bars: DoM, Tvl. Capt. Lt. L. Cooke, Bechuanaland Rif;
KSA 2 bars: SA’01, SA’02 Captain L. Cooke Bech’ld Rifles; 
1914-15 Star Maj. L.G.J.S. Cooke, Mafeking Commando; 
BWM Maj. L.G.J.S. Cooke; 
AVM (Bil.) Maj. L.G.J.S. Cooke

DCM LONDON GAZETTE 19 APRIL 1901
Colonel Baden Powell in his official Despatch published in the London Gazette of 8 February 1901 Cooke wrote as follows: 

“Sergeant Cook (sic), Bechuanaland Rifles specially recommended for clever and plucky scouting, and for gallantry in action (vide separate letter).”

 

Sergeant Cooke’s gallantry was most noticeable during the disastrous action at Game Tree on 26 December 1900. 

 

In his published report Baden Powell recorded the events of that day as follows:
“The Boers’ work at Game Tree, 2,500 yards north of town, had checked our grazing in that direction, and it commanded our line of communication northwards.

 

Some shells thrown into it a few days previously had caused enemy temporarily to vacate it, showing it to be a weak open work; this had been confirmed by reconnaissance by our scouts, but as the enemy had been seen strengthening it during the past few days, I determined to attack before they should make it impregnable.

 

Accordingly, two squadrons Protectorate Regiment, supported by armoured train and Bechuanaland Rifles, were ordered to attack from the left flank of the work, under direction from Major Godley, while three guns and Maxim prepared the way from the right front of the work.

 

This scheme was carried out at dawn on the 26th, the guns making good practice, and the two squadrons advancing in attack formation exactly as required. But on pressing home the attack a heavy fire killed or wounded most of the Officers and the leading troops.

 

These succeeded in gaining the parapet, but the work was found to have been strongly roofed in and so closed as to be impregnable. The attack fell back upon the eastern face, and pushed forward again on the southern face, but eventually had to retire with the loss of – Captain Vernon, Captain Sandford, Lieutenant Paton, and 21 non-commissioned officers and men killed, and, Captain FitzClarence and 22 men wounded. Three missing.

 

If blame for this reverse falls on anyone it should be on myself, as everyone concerned did their part of the work thoroughly well, and exactly in accordance with the orders I had issued. Both Officers and men worked with splendid courage and spirit.” 

 

CAPTAIN LIONEL GEORGE JAMES SMITH COOKE
Lionel George James Smith Cooke was born on 2nd May 1872. Service documents record that he first joined the Bechuanaland Rifles as a Private on 1 September 1898. He was promoted Corporal on 13 November 1899 and it was in that capacity that his gallantry during the action at Game Tree earned him his Distinguished Conduct Medal.

 

He is recorded as having taken part in the actions of 26th December 1899 and 12th May 1900 during the Defence of Mafeking. He later took part in various operations in the Transvaal west of Pretoria from July to 29th November 1900 and elsewhere in the Transvaal between 30th November 1900 and 31st May 1902. Stirling in his well known book The Colonials in South Africa 1899-1902 confirms that Captain Cooke was severely wounded at Schweizer Reneke on 2nd January 1902.

 

He was also mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 1 April 1901. Lionel Cooke was promoted Lance Sergeant on 22 January 1900 and as Sergeant on 1 April 1900. He was commissioned after the Relief of Mafeking on 1 October 1900 and a year later as Captain in October 1901. 

 

His wartime rank of Captain was reduced to that of Lieutenant in 1903 and having resigned for a short period between 1904 and 1907 he was subsequently reappointed Lieutenant in March 1907 and continued to serve with the Bechuanaland Rifles in that capacity until 30 June 1913 when he was transferred to the Union Reserve of Officers, Mounted Rifles Branch (Section I). 

 

At the outset of WWI he was re-employed as a Junior Commandant (Major) with the Mafeking War Commando from 27 October 1914 until 18 February 1915. Once again reverting to the Reserve of Officers he was promoted Captain, Reserve of Officers on 31 August 1921 and as Major and Commandant of the Mafeking Commando, (D.R.A. Organisation) appointment which he finally relinquished on 30 June 1929.

 

In 1974 his widow, formerly Miss L. Hay, recalled a few further details mentioning that she married Major Cooke in 1922 and that he died 23 October 1952 and is buried in the Mafeking cemetery. 

 

She mentioned that he was a Master Builder and had built the main part of Mafeking Railway Station. Apparently he was one the five men who put up the money to build the railway line to the border during the Rinderpest scourge. At that time Mafeking was cut off from the North Eastern Transvaal as the railway extended only from Johannesburg to Ottoshoop.

 

He also built the Wesleyan church in Main Street and the dam, commonly called “Cooke’s dam”, which supplied water to Mafeking. He was appointed as Mayor of Mafeking for two years and acted as such for nearly a further two years. He was also at one time Chairman of the Divisional Council. 

 

He was interested in many projects and at one time ran the gold mine outside Mafeking called “Madibi” for Anglo American but this was later abandoned as being uneconomical to continue. His wife described him as being keen on horses and that he was a good rider. Scotty Smith had taught him to ride and gave him his first horse. He played rugby and was a champion at golf. 

She mentioned that she had been employed as Matron of the Mafeking Hospital after the war. She was proud of the fact that the Lord Baden Powell’s stayed with them during their two return visits to South Africa.

 

Of her late husband’s exploits during the Boer War she wrote as follows: 
“My husband had his decoration for carrying wounded soldier on his back at “Game Tree”. He carried him over the railway line at Mafeking.” 

 

Angus Hamilton recorded:
“Our guns moved into position during the night, throwing up emplacements for the attack, and as soon as they could see, Major Panzera opened fire. It was yet dark, although there came a faint glimmer of light from the east, but not sufficient to prevent the flashes from the muzzles of the guns and the glow of the bursting shells from being plainly visible.

 

Until that moment there had been no sign of any living thing about the veldt between us and the Boer lines, and there was no sound. We had seen C and D Squadrons creeping to their positions under the guidance of the scout Cooke. Captain Lord Charles Bentinck had deployed across the front of the Boer position, taking up his place upon the left of the line.

 

Close to him and but little in advance, the gunners had ensconced themselves behind a few sods of earth and sacks of sand. These operations marked the preliminary of the fight, from which, as the armoured train steamed to its post, completing the units in our attack, nothing had been omitted which might increase our chances of success.”

 

On another later occasion (30 April 1900) Baillie wrote: 
“I was rather amused to hear Sergeant Cooke, of the Bechuanaland Rifles, report having slain a Dutchman this morning. He wasn’t in the least elated, and in a shamefaced sort of way said he was afraid it wasn’t a sporting shot. He couldn’t have been more upset if he had shot a hen pheasant siting, but to anyone else the episode was distinctly amusing.” 

 

NOTE: Three Victoria Crosses were awarded as a result of acts of heroism during the Siege of Mafeking: Sergeant Horace Martineau and Trooper Horace Ramsden and the third to Captain Charles FitzClarence. All three awards were awarded for Game Tree although Captain FitzClarence’s citation also referred to two previous actions.