Published on 18 March 2019
Tributes were today paid to a WWII veteran who received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Sunderland.
Retired Sunderland solicitor and decorated Jewish officer Lieutenant Colonel Mordaunt Cohen served during the War’s Burma Campaign.
The officer, who was awarded his Honorary Fellowship 25 years after his wife Judge Myrella Cohen was the University’s first honorary award recipient, sadly died on Saturday aged 102.
Born in Sunderland in 1916 he served in Burma, commanding Nigerian volunteers as part of an anti-aircraft unit defending RAF air strips and, during his service, survived malaria, hepatitis and gruelling conditions.
He qualified as a solicitor aged 21, and set up his own practice shortly before war broke out in 1939. In 1974 he and his wife made history, when they became the first husband and wife to serve on the judiciary. He was appointed the University’s first Chair of Governors and also served on the local education board in the 1960s.
Paying tribute to him, former University of Sunderland Vice Chancellor, Shirley Atkinson, said: “A wonderful gentleman who gave an inspirational speech at his graduation ceremony. A joy to listen to. Thoughts are with his lovely family.”
Graeme Thompson, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, added: “It was a privilege to meet Lt Col Cohen when he was awarded an honorary fellowship at the University a couple of years ago. A remarkable gentleman and authentic.”
Lt Col Cohen chose to join the Army after Jewish children arrived in his hometown of Sunderland from the Kindertransport and settled in a local girls’ hostel. On hearing their stories, he found out what the Nazis had been doing and felt he had to fight for his country and his people.
His first posting was to a field artillery regiment at Redcar racecourse, just 40 miles from where he lived. In 1942 he travelled the length of Burma with his unit. He learned their language to help understand them and they shared stories about their religions. On VJ Day 1945 Lt Col Cohen and his company were still out in Burma. He remembers that his Brigadier celebrated with him, finally opening a bottle of aged brandy that he had carried all through the war and drinking to its conclusion.