Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

Family Group:
A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Captain R. G. Cordiner, Lincolnshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 4 October 1917
Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, in case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. G. Cordiner. Linc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. G. Cordiner.) very fine
Pair: Attributed to Squadron Leader H. G. Cordiner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with the related miniature awards, these mounted as worn and additionally including a M.I.D. oak leaf, extremely fine (6) £800-£1,200
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M.C. London Gazette 22 September 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. Though wounded he continued to lead his company in the attack till a second time wounded severely in the face.’
Robert (Roy) Grote Cordiner was born in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, on 9 February 1897, the son of the Reverend Robert Cordiner and his wife Josephine, the daughter of Major J. W. I. Stockwell, and was educated at Lancing College. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment on 22 September 1914, and was promoted Lieutenant in January 1915. He served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 September 1915, and was promoted Captain the following month. He was wounded three times, being awarded the Military Cross for continuing to lead his men although wounded, and was finally killed in action on 4 October 1917. A brother officer wrote:
‘I should like to express to you my very great appreciation and admiration of Roy, who was not only my best friend in the Regiment, but one of the most gallant officers I have ever known. Although so young, he was an exceptionally capable officer, and the efficient, thoughtful, and cool manner in which he commanded his company under all circumstances won for him the admiration of all his brother officers and the almost idolized devotion of the men under his command Although wounded at an early stage of the recent action in which the Regiment took part, he refused to leave his men, and went on till he was shot through the head by a sniper. His winning personality made for him friends innumerable, and we all mourn his loss very deeply, and can only judge your sorrow by our own.’
Cordiner has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.
Hugo Grote Cordiner was born in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, in 1903, the son of the Reverend Robert Cordiner and his wife Josephine, and the younger brother of Robert Grote Cordiner. He was commissioned Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 23 June 1941, and was promoted Flying Officer on 1 October 1942, and Flight Lieutenant on 1 January 1946. For his services during the Second World War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 1 January 1945 and 1 January 1946). He retired with the rank of Squadron Leader on 1 June 1954.
For the medals awarded to the the recipients’ grandfather, Major J. W. I. Stockwell, see lot 260.
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