The Late Major John Cook

The late Major John Cook, 1880. 'The death of this gallant officer of the 5th Goorkhas, from a wound received...in the conflict to hold the position on the Takht-i-Shah, above the city of Cabul [ie Kabul, Afghanistan], has been mentioned in former accounts of the series of engagements which preceded the retirement of General Roberts's forces within the cantonments at Sherpore...The act of gallantry for which Major Cook received the Victoria Cross is thus officially recorded: "For a signal act of valour at the action of the Peiwar Kotul, on Dec. 2, 1878, in having, during a very heavy fire, charged out of the intrenchments with such impetuosity that the enemy broke and fled, when, perceiving at the close of the mêlée the danger of Major Galbraith, Assistant Adjutant-General, Khoorum Column Field Force, who was in personal conflict with an Afghan soldier, Captain Cook distracted his attention to himself, and, aiming a sword cut, which the Douranee avoided, sprang upon him, and, grasping his throat, grappled with him. They both fell to the ground. The Douranee, a most powerful man, still endeavouring to use his rifle, seized Captain Cook's arm in his teeth, until the struggle was ended by the man being shot through the head".' From "Illustrated London News", 1880. Creator: W. I. Mosses. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)