Of importance to aviation history: the Decorations and Medals to Wing Commander Gilbert George

Of importance to aviation history: the Decorations and Medals to Wing Commander Gilbert George Herbert Cooke, D.S.C., A.F.C., R.N., R.N.A.S. and R.A.F., who served as navigator in Airship R. 34 for her historic double transatlantic flight in July 1919: Distinguished Service Cross, George V, reverse privately engraved "LIEUTENANT COMMANDER G G H COOKE. RN. 3RD MAY 1918"; Air Force Cross, George V, unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (LIEUT. G. G. H. COOKE. R.N.); British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal with oak leaf (MAJOR G. G. H. COOKE. R.A.F.); Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45; veryfine or nearly so,[7]; accompanied by a dress miniature medal representing each of the first five awards; together with a copy of the Commanding Officer's report on the flight of the R. 34 incorporating a contribution from the recipient, a group portrait photograph of the crew of the R34 with other officers and civilians in the United States, a North Atlantic Route Chart from among the recipient's effects, a copy of a uniformed photograph of the recipient, and a small quantity of copy research.

Gilbert George Herbert Cooke was born on the 28th March 1886, at Thong, near Gravesend in Kent. He entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in September 1902, progressing to Lieutenant in November 1907. His career in naval aviation commenced in February 1912 when he was posted to H.M.S. Dryad (shore establishment) for an airship course, but the outbreak of the First World War found him serving in H.M.S. Chatham in the Mediterranean. Chatham had an eventful start to the war, participating in the hunt for the German ships Goeben and Breslau, and being deployed against the light cruiser Königsberg in the East African theatre. She returned to the Mediterranean in 1915 to support the Helles landings, and Lieutenant Cooke transferred to H.M.S. Europa and served under Commander (later Vice Admiral) Henry Percy Douglas in surveying the Cape Helles beaches. He returned to the UK in November 1915, was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and resumed aviation work. He married his wife Henrietta in March 1916, and was appointed Flight Commander in February 1917. His D.S.O. was gazetted on the 1st May 1918 "For zeal and devotion to duty during period 1st July - 31st December 1917", during which time he was stationed at RNAS Pulham "Training in Parcevals", at Cranwell ("Flying Duties"), and at RNAS Daedalus at Lee-on-Solent.

The historic flight of Airship R. 34, (for which the recipient (now Captain (A/Major) was the navigator), was a pioneering achievement that took place between the 2nd and the 13th July 1919. The vessel encountered adverse weather conditions in the first ever East to West aerial crossing of the Atlantic, and arrived at Mineola, U.S.A., dangerously short of fuel. On the return flight she was diverted to Pulham, again owing to foul weather.

Following his return Gilbert Cooke was Commissioned Squadron Leader R.A.F. (01/08/1919) and awarded the Air Force Cross (London Gazette 22/08/1919) for "..distinguished services to Aviation, in the successful voyages of Airship R. 34 from the United Kingdom to the United States of America and back". He was promoted to Wing Commander in 1925.

According to family tradition, the interesting combination of D.S.C. and A.F.C. aroused suspicion in the mind of a civilian who observed Cooke's medal ribbons as he travelled by train, in uniform, during the Second World War. Knowing enough to recognise the ribbons, but not enough to reconcile a Royal Navy award with an RAF award, he mistakenly concluded that Cooke was wearing them fraudulently, and summoned the police to apprehend him.