Lieutenant Commander and Captain Anthony John Cooper RD TD Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Artillery
General Service Medal 'Malaya'. Efficiency Decoration Territorial' Royal Naval Reserve Decoration.
The Man Anthony John Cooper was born during the early 1930s and in 1950 was called up for his National Service in the Royal Artillery as an Officer Cadet with service number 22323716, seeing service in Berlin during 1950. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 20th January 1951 with a new service number 414761 and on 29th January 1952 transferred to the Territorial retaining his seniority and appointed acting Lieutenant on 23rd July 1952.
On 16th August 1954, Anthony was promoted to Lieutenant and on 11th September 1957 granted the rank of Acting Captain. During 1961 he was seconded for service on the Staff and on 15th May 1963 at his own request reverted to the rank of Lieutenant.
In the London Gazette of 13th November 1964, he was awarded his Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ and promoted to Captain on 1st November 1965 with seniority backdated to 28th February 1960. Anthony retired from the TA on 14th September 1966.
At about the same time he enlisted into the Royal Naval Reserve as an acting Lieutenant and promoted to Lieutenant on 12th March 1968 with seniority backdated to 14th September 1963, possibly backdated to an equivalent position within the TA. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 14th September 1971 and in the London Gazette of 12th February 1980 awarded his Royal Naval and Royal Marine Forces Reserve Decoration dated 1979.
On 16th August 1985 he retired from the RNR.
On 16th August 1954, Anthony was promoted to Lieutenant and on 11th September 1957 granted the rank of Acting Captain. During 1961 he was seconded for service on the Staff and on 15th May 1963 at his own request reverted to the rank of Lieutenant.
In the London Gazette of 13th November 1964, he was awarded his Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ and promoted to Captain on 1st November 1965 with seniority backdated to 28th February 1960. Anthony retired from the TA on 14th September 1966.
At about the same time he enlisted into the Royal Naval Reserve as an acting Lieutenant and promoted to Lieutenant on 12th March 1968 with seniority backdated to 14th September 1963, possibly backdated to an equivalent position within the TA. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 14th September 1971 and in the London Gazette of 12th February 1980 awarded his Royal Naval and Royal Marine Forces Reserve Decoration dated 1979.
On 16th August 1985 he retired from the RNR.
Reverse of Decorations 1979 and 1964.
The Story The very unusual medal combination awarded to Anthony John Cooper were acquired from E-Bay on 25th June 2025 and of interest because of the scarce double long service combination of the Royal Naval Reserve and Efficiency Decorations, showing lengthy service in both the Royal Navy and Territorial Army.
Also adding to the interest was the inclusion of a General Service Medal named to Anthony as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery and a separately attached Golden Jubilee Medal 2002, although the latter turned out to be a copy and in all probability self-awarded.
The London Gazette enabled confirmation of his TA and later RN career to be confirmed together with an interesting post on the royal Artillery Facebook page from 2024, confirming his service in both organisations.
There are two possible hits on Ancestry, but until more definitive detail is available it is not possible to establish which is this Anthony Cooper, although it is estimated he was born in about 1932, making him 18 in 1950 in time for his National Service.
Sadly however, so little information for such an interesting and unusual group.
Also adding to the interest was the inclusion of a General Service Medal named to Anthony as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery and a separately attached Golden Jubilee Medal 2002, although the latter turned out to be a copy and in all probability self-awarded.
The London Gazette enabled confirmation of his TA and later RN career to be confirmed together with an interesting post on the royal Artillery Facebook page from 2024, confirming his service in both organisations.
There are two possible hits on Ancestry, but until more definitive detail is available it is not possible to establish which is this Anthony Cooper, although it is estimated he was born in about 1932, making him 18 in 1950 in time for his National Service.
Sadly however, so little information for such an interesting and unusual group.
Anthony Cooper's Commemorative Medals. British Forces Germany 'Berlin 1950'. National Service Medal.
Medal Details:
- General Service Medal: 2/LT. A.J.COOPER. R.A.
- Reserve Decoration: 1979
- Efficiency Decoration: 1964
- British Forces Germany: 2/LT. A.J.COOPER. R.A.
- NationalService Medal: Unnamed as purchased.
This page last updated 17 Jul 25
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