A Scottish 'Merchant' & Officer of the Indian Volunteers Long Service Medal Pair: Lieutenant- Colonel John Stewart Couper, V.D., late Commanding-Officer, Sind Volunteer Rifles

- Indian Volunteer Forces Officers Decoration. EDVII issue (Major J. S. Cooper, Sind Volr. Rifles)
- Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India). EDVII issue (Major J. S. Couper, Sind Volr. Rifles

The surname n the IVD only has been engraved as 'Cooper' (sic), when the correct surname was Couper. The medal being as issued and never corrected

The IVD with English silver hallmarks for Birmingham 1904

Both medals suspended from an ornate contemporary double space silver 'brooch' suspender. This retaining its long hinged pin & clasp fittings - the reverse of the buckle stamped 'Silver'


Provenance: Collection of John M.A. Tamplin O.B.E. (London, June 2009)

Reference the standard reference book on the Indian Volunteer Officers Decoration, vide 'The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. The Indian Volunteer Forces Officers' Decoration' (John M. A. Tamplin, Spink, London, 1981) only an estimated 270 +/- EDVII Indian Volunteer Officer's Decorations awarded 1902-1910 (a total of 285 x awards were gazetted & issued 1902-1910, but those awarded in the 1910 total included both EDVII and GV issue medals)

Medals Verification: Both medals are confirmed as entitled per the official publications of the respective awards cited below:

- Indian Volunteer Forces Officers Decoration. EDVII issue: Gazette of India 25 November 1905
- Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India). EDVII issue: (Indian Army Orders) General Order No. 847 1904)

John Stewart Couper. eldest son of John Stewart Couper (Shipowner) and Elizabeth Couper (nee Brown) was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, where he was born 31 August 1862. At the time of the compilation of the 1871 National Census for Scotland, John is recorded residing with his mother, who is described as Widow and 'Shipowner', and his siblings residing at, Roslea Villa, High Road, Dunoon & Kilmun, Aryllshire, Scotland. In 1871, John's siblings were, his sister Jessie D. Couper (b. 1865), and brothers, James B. Couper (b. 1867) & Stewart Service Couper (b. 1868). By the time of the compilation of the 1881 National Census for Scotland, John is recorded as 'Head' of a household and employed as a Commercial Shippers Clerk, and residing with his brother James B. Couper (shown as Commercial Clerk Insurance), and his un-married maternal aunts, Jessie Brown & Mary A. Brown, and living at, 108, Woodlands Road, Barony, Kelvin, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Sometime. shortly, after the compilation of the 1881, National Census, John Couper accepted an appointment that took him to British India, where he lived and worked in Karachi. In 1895 he is recorded employed as an 'Assistant' for Bryan Durant & Co, Karachi, Sind (Thackers Indian Directory for 1895 refers). John was initiated as a Free Mason on 9 January 1893, when he joined the Union Lodge of Karachi, Sind Province, British India (now located in Pakistan). At the time of his initiation his occupation was described as 'Merchant'

The below following obituary to John Stuar Couper was published in the Lahire newspaper, 'The Civil and Military Gazette' issue of, 23 June 1909: 

Quote,

OBITUARY

Karachi, June 21.

The death is announced at Home on Friday of Mr. John S. Couper, a well known merchant in Karachi. Mr. Couper left India some two years ago on account of ill-health. He underwent an operation at Home, and in January last was regarded as completely recovered, and it was his intention to return to Karachi and resume work during the present month. He seems, however, to have suffered a relapse, from which he was unable to recover. Mr. Couper was very much liked here, and news of his death was received with much regret. Mr. Couper came to Karachi in the early eighties representing the company Harrower & Co., Calcutta. Subsequently he started as export merchant under the name of Cooper, Toomey and Co., and on the failure of that company a few years ago, he worked as a freight exchange broker.

Unquote.

John Stewart Couper joined the Sind Volunteer Rifles circa 1884. He was subsequently commissioned and as an Officer his record of progress in promotions of rank was:

- 06/03/1889: 2nd Lieutenant:
- 10/02/1890: Lieutenant
- 10/04/1896: Captain
- 11/06/1897: Major:
- 01/04/1908: Lieutenant-Colonel

Lieutenant-Colonel John Stewart Cooper was on leave (furlough) ex India, and visiting his family roots in Glasgow, Scotland, in which place he is recorded to have died on 17 September 1909
 
A brass memorial plaque named to the memory of Lieutenant-Colonel J. S.Couper, Sind Volunteer Rifles, can be seen on the West Wall of the Church of St. Andrews, located in Karachi, Pakistan
 
Sind Volunteer Rifles:The corps had it's origins dating to its raising in Karachi, Sind Province, in 1879, as the Sind Volunteer Rifle Corps, the regiment was re-styled Sind Volunteer Rifles in 1897. With the creation of the Indian Defence Force in April 1917, the regiment was restyled 23rd Sind Battalion

 A very scarce seen Indian Volunteer Officers Decoration to an Officer of the Sind Volunteer Rifles, who held the distinction of being the Commanding Officer of the regiment at the time of his death

Condition: GVF

Code: 25716