Mordaunt Cohen

Mordaunt Cohen (6 August 1916 – 16 March 2019) was a British soldier and solicitor.

Early life Mordaunt Cohen was born in Sunderland, England on 6 August 1916 and was educated at the Bede Collegiate School. where he served in the Anti-Aircraft (AA) branch. His unit, 251 Heavy Anti-Aircraft (HAA) Battery, was posted to West Africa Command. There he commanded Nigerian troops, including Muslims, of the West African Artillery (WAA). In West Africa, he learned Hausa - the lingua franca for Nigerian troops - and trained his men for active service. In Burma, he led them in the fight against the Japanese. At the end of the war his service was recognised with the award of a Mention in Despatches.

After the war, Cohen transferred to the Territorial Army and continued his military service. In 1954, by now a Major, he received the Territorial Decoration. He retired as a Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1992, the institution was, in turn, among the first polytechnics to gain university status.

Family life In 1953, Mordaunt married Myrella The Cohens were the first British couple to hold simultaneous, full-time judicial positions.