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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
L/Cpl. John Cook
British Army 9th Btn. Yorks & Lancs Regt
from:Trimdon, Co.Durham.
(d.30th Sep 1918)
My great-uncle, Jack Cook, had volunteered in the early days of the war and by summer 1916 was in the 9th battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment. On Midsummer’s Day 1916 the great artillery bombardment opened on The Somme. In theory the German front line was to be so pulverised that the British troops, whom Haig seems to have considered incapable of little more than obeying simple instructions, could walk across and occupy the enemies positions.
On the night of 29-30 June 1916, Jack's battalion moved forward to their assembly position. They had to wait over a day, but then July 1st dawned fine but misty, and at 6.25 the final bombardment began. At 7.30 all along the line of 15 divisions men went over the top, each carrying 66lb of kit, and expecting little if any resistance. In reality, as John Keegan in 'The Face of Battle' so elegantly shows, there was a race on for the top of the German front lines. Whoever arrived first had won: the loser would face annihilation. The awful reality was that that the Germans had largely survived the bombardment and were able to bring their machine guns to bear upon the advancing infantry struggling with the barbed wire that had also defeated everything the artillery could throw against it.
Unusually the wire in front of the 70th Brigade was completely cut and the first and second German lines on Thiepval Ridge were captured, with some troops even reaching the third line. Meanwhile the 9th York and Lancaster’s were coming up in support. By then the German barrage was intense: one of the four companies losing 50% of its men before it left its assembly position. Ahead and to both left and right was severe machine-gun fire but the first wave gained the German line. By 10 am. all communication between British lines and the brigade headquarters had ceased since every telephone wire was cut and it was impossible to stand-up in no-man’s-land.
During the night they were relieved. Out of 25 officers and 736 other ranks of the 9th York and Lancs who went into action, 22 officers and 556 men were casualties in the bloodiest day the British Army has ever known, with 31 581 killed, wounded or missing. Behind them was the sound of countless men lying out in no-man’s-land, described by one survivor like 'enormous wet fingers screeching across an enormous pane of glass'. Some of the wounded screamed, some muttered, some wept with fear, some called for help, other shouted in delirium or groaned in pain. Their Brigade Commander wrote, 'I cannot speak too highly of the gallantry and determination of officers and men. Artillery could not stop them, but with nothing on their flanks save German machine guns, with the support exhausted and German reinforcements coming up, they fought for over six hours in positions won by them from the enemy, until they died'.
My grandfather was also to take part in the Somme with his regiment, the Northumberland Fusiliers, a little later. In his own words, 'at daybreak, 14th July the barrage of constant very heavy shell fire lifted and our men went over to take the village of Bazentin-le-Petit from the occupying Germans. The stretcher bearers follow and we left at intervals of one minute, knowing that our journey would not be in vain. Before my particular stretcher had reached the village we saw Number One coming back but with only two men carrying. The third man had been hit in both legs and the fourth shot though the throat (a particularly disturbing event for the company for this man had had a clear premonition of his own death, apparently so unusual that my grandfather clearly remembered it 50 years later).
'The village was now the centre of a bitter battle which was often hand-to-hand with the Germans putting up stiff resistance. Pratt (a chum since he joined up in early 1915) was going forward with his section when they were held up. He could not be dissuaded from going forward alone to clear a house which had already cost us dear when he was killed outright.
'By mid morning the scene at the dressing station was pitiable in the extreme with Captain Glyn (the M.O.) and Corporal Burns (his dresser) working without a moments relaxation as we brought in a stream of wounded. There were no priorities here as they lay where we put them (outside) in their dozens to wait their turn. Those who were known to have no possible chance of recovery had to be put into a nearby dugout to wait a merciful death. Captain Mellish VC,(the Chaplain) gave them the comfort only such a man as he could.
Walking wounded went straight off under their own strength to reach some aid in the back area, but many must have died on the way for the whole area was shell ridden. The gun crews worked ceaselessly loading and firing, paying no regard to the hail of shells seeking them out and bursting all around. The horse-driven ammunition columns rode up at full gallop, discharging their loads and turning about to bring still more from the rear.
'There was no time for panic. Carrying one man shoulder high we heard a large shell coming very close indeed. I actually saw it plunge into the ground almost at my feet and burst. We walked on out of the black cloud of smoke, hurling earth and metal unscathed...
He then described how their sergeant, a hard-bitten pre-War veteran, had been reduced to tears to have to bring out a very badly wounded lad of sixteen who started crying for his mother.
'To add to our emotional worries we noticed a tall figure running around in circles alone and in a very exposed place. I ran over to him; he was dazed but knew me. "Cooky, where are the others. They can't go on like this, its sheer hell and we'll never get them back again. Poor Tim (the man shot through the throat), he knew all the time what was going to happen by his dream and went in like the man he was.... He got to his feet and I walked him back to the dressing station. He left for hospital and it was not for some weeks that he overcame his shell-shock.
'Withdrawal on the 19th to the divisional reserve brought a letter from home to tell me that Jack had been wounded on the first day of the battle and had returned to England. Later I was to learn that he had been shot through the body almost immediately he left the trench. The bullet had missed his spine by fraction of an inch yet he walked down to the first aid post alone. It was not expected that he would ever be A1 again but such was his strength that he later returned to his battalion.
Pte. John Markham Cook
British Army 10th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment
from:Grimsby, Lincs
(d.11th Apr 1917)
I was the first person in our family to visit Uncle Jack's grave - a very moving experience. I was able to take my mother , his sister, to the cemetery some years later.
Pte. John Cook
British Army 1/5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment
from:Staithes, N Yorks
(d.15th Sept 1916)
John Cook was born on 9th May 1878 in Goose Green, Wigan, Lancashire. His mother was Anne Cook who worked as a weaver in a woollen mill and his father was unknown. He married Mary Ellen Bousfield on 25th August 1900 in Rosedale Abbey, North Yorkshire and together they had eight children of which my grandma Margaret Cook (b. Dec 1900) was the oldest. John was a miner and spent most of his working life in the ironstone mines in and around North Yorkshire.
John enlisted in the 1/5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment in Whitby in 1915 and became Private 3496. He completed his training before leaving for France. Unfortunately for John the 1/5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment was deployed to the Somme area of Northern France. John fought in the Battle of Flers Corcelettes which was a major offensive and hundreds of men lost their lives. John was ‘Killed in Action’ on the 15th September 1916 and his name appears as a casualty of that Battle in the Yorkshire Regiment War Diaries.
John is remembered with honour and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France. His name also appears on the Staithes War Memorial, near Whitby in North Yorkshire. To my knowledge there are no surviving photographs of John Cook. I am his great granddaughter.
Pte. John Eaden Cook
British Army 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
from:Denby Dale, Yorkshire
(d.20th July 1916)
My great uncle, John Cook of Denby Dale nr Huddersfield, Yorkshire, was a Private in the 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
The 20th Battalion were part of the 19th Brigade assaults on High Wood near Martinpuich, Somme, France on 19th - 21st July 1916 and he is listed as 'Presumed Dead' dated 20th July 1916. John Eaden Cook is listed on the Thiepval Memorial and also on the war memorial in Denby Dale, along with his brother Frank Eaden Cook who was killed in action in 1918 and buried at Belle Vue British Cemetery, Briastre, France.
Gnr. John Francis William Cook
British Army Royal Field Artillery
from:London
(d.22nd July 1916)
Pte. Joseph Herbert Cook
British Army 2nd Btn. South Wales Borderers
from:Birkenhead
I have call up papers for Joe Cook, from the recruiting office sworn in Birkenhead court on 8/9/1917 and note on form b104-81 informing his mum he was wounded and gassed in France 30/9/1918. I would like more info if possible.
Cpl. Joseph James Cook
Canadian Expeditionary Force 21st Btn.
from:Chatham, Ontario, Canada
(d.23rd April 1916)
Joseph Cook served with the 21st Battalion, CEF.
Pte. Leonard Cook
New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1st Canterbury Btn.
from:Hill and Coles Farm, Flamstead.
(d.7th Jun 1917)
Pte. Leonard Cook
New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1st Battalion Canterbury Infantry Regiment
from:Flamstead
(d.7th Jun 1917)
One of my ancestors, Leonard Cook, who my late father was named after was killed at the Battle of Messines. I think that he was my grandfather's uncle perhaps, however this is unkown. We do know however that the Cook family were originally of German origin - Koch who owned delicatessen shops in Hamburg. Some emigrated to Liverpool, England, apparently running pork shops and some to New Zealand, Wellington and Palmerston North and Wanganui. This is all I know on this side of the family, it is a work in progress.
I understand that Leonard departed NZ via Wellington and served and survived the Battle of Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine, then finally meeting his death at the Battle of Messines Ridge, Belgium. I would be immensely grateful for any information to assist my geneaological research, especially in time for the 100yr anniversary of ANZACs 2015. Many thanks.
Percy Cook
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
(d.27th Jul 1916)
Percy Cook was 21 years old when he was killed, he is buried in St Vaast Post Military Cemetery. The inscription on his headstone reads: Also in memory of Private J E Cook DLI killed 24th May 1915, aged 24 years. It was funded by Miss N M trees of Sundial House, Hurworth on Tees.
Spr. Robert Cook
British Army 409 Lowland Field Coy. Royal Engineers
from:Bothwellhaugh, Lanarkshire
Robert Cook served with 409 Lowland Field Coy. Royal Engineers.
Pte. Samuel A Cook
British Army 14th (West of England) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Samuel Cook's named British War Medal was recently recovered from being scrapped for silver.
Pte. Thomas Cook MM.
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. Thomas Cook
British Army 19th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Served with 18th DLI
Pte. Thomas Oswald Cook
British Army 220th Company Machine Gun Corps
from:21 Albert Road, Stechford, Birmingham
Thomas Oswald Cook was born 2nd Oct 1893. He enlisted under the Derby Scheme in Birmingham on 11th Dec 1915. He was mobilized on 9 Nov 1916 and on 8 Jan 1917 he joined the 22nd Training Reserve Battalion which was part of the 5th Reserve Brigade stationed at Shoreham. He transferred into the Machine Gun Corps on 24th February 1917. His service records lists the following:
- MGC 12th Coy - posted 8 May 1917
- MGC 207th Coy - posted 29 Sep 1917
- MGC 220th Coy - posted 11 Oct 1917
- MGC B? - posted 8 Dec 1917
- MGC 220th - posted 20 Feb 1918
- Home - Posted 26 Mar 1919
- Discharged 22 Apr 1919 - no longer physically fit for War Service.
Pte Walter Cook
British Army 1st Btn Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry
from:London
(d.23rd Jul 1916)
My Uncle Walter Cook enlisted in the DCLI as an underage boy from South London,and was killed at Delville Wood on 23 July 1916, aged just 17, where he is buried.Sadly his war records perished in a fire at the National archivesin the thirties and the family photo of him in uniform is long lost.I would very much like, in this anniversary year, to trace a photo of him if anyone can help.
Sgt.Mjr. William Cook
British Army 16th Tyne Fortress Works Coy. Royal Engineers
from:Jarrow
(d.20th Mar 1919)
Sergeant Major William Cook served with the 16th Tyne Fortress Works Coy. Royal Engineers. He was awarded the MSM (Long Service and Good Conduct Medal) He had been born in Burslem Staffordshire and served in the South African War. He was the son of Joseph and Annie Cook of Southsea Hampshire and husband of Christina Cook (nee Lydon) of 13 Holly Street Jarrow. On the 1911 census he is listed as William Cook age 30 Sergeant Major Instructor of Territorial Force, living with his wife Christina Cook and mother in law Elizabeth Lydon at 2 Nixon Street, Jarrow
William died aged 37 on 20th March 1919 and is buried in Jarrow Cemetery.
Sgt. William Alfred Cook
British Army 8th Btn. London Regiment
(d.16th June 1917)
Pte Alexander Hamilton Cooke MM
British Army 2nd Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
from:Claudy, Londonderry
Pte. F. Cooke
British Army 9th Btn. D Coy. King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
CSgt. Francis James Cooke
British Army 4th Btn. West Riding Regiment
Francis Cooke was discharged on the 31st of March 1916 as time expired
Pte. Frederic Arthur Cooke
British Army 5th Btn London Regiment
from:Hornsey, London
(d.9th Sept 1916)
Frederic Cooke died aged 19 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He also served in Gibraltar. A young man who was missed very severely by Katie, his sister, my grandmother, who wept so many times when I was a little girl when she told me of the loss of her lovely young brother. The family carries you in its heart Uncle Freddy. I talk of you to the next generations of our clan. Rest gently.
Pte. Frederick William Cooke
British Army 8th Btn. East Kent Regiment
(d.18th August 1916)
Frederick Cooke was my great great grandfather. His surname was spelt with an e but in the Army he was known as Cook without the e. He was born in 1891. He died on 18th of August 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial
Pte. Harry Maltby Cooke
British Army 8th Btn. Black Watch
(d.3rd May 1917)
My great uncle, Harry Cooke, enlisted in the Yorkshire Regiment on 6th June 1914 (No 10478) and was discharged on 27th November 1914 as be "not likely to be an efficient Soldier". At some later date he re-enlisted in the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) 8th Btn. and died near Fampoux during the Third Battle of the Scarpe. Details of his service in the Black Watch appear to have been destroyed.
Pte. Henry John Cooke
British Army 1st Btn East Surrey Regiment
(d.5th Nov 1916 )
Henry Cooke is a distant relation, he is buries in Gorre British and Indian Cemetery, grave 111. 8. 19.
Pte. John Cooke
British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.24th May 1915)
Sgt. Richard Cooke
British Army N Bty. Royal Horse Artillery
from:Colchester
Pte. Rupert Victor Cooke
British Army Norfolk Regiment
from:Northampton
Rupert Victor Cooke is my great grandfather who I met when I was very young, he died in 1982. He served in the British Army between 1914-1920. I'm trying to track down if he had a brother who died in the First World War. I can remember a Memorial Plaque in his home that someone told me was for his brother, that's all I can remember. I don't know if they would have joined up in the same regiment.
Pte. S. Cooke
British Army 2nd Btn. North Staffordshire Regiment
(d.1st June 1920)
Private Cooke was buried in the Famagusta Military Cemetery in Cyprus, Grave 25.
Pte Thomas Cooke VC.
Australian Army 8th Battalion
from:Australia
(d.25th July 1916)
Thomas Cooke was born in Kaikoura, New Zealand, he was a 35 years old private in the 8th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force when he was awarded the VC.
"On 24th/25th July 1916 at Pozieres, France, after a Lewis gun had been disabled, Private Cooke was ordered to take his gun to a dangerous part of the line. He did fine work, but came under very heavy fire, and finally he was the only man left. He still stuck to his post and continued to fire, but when assistance finally arrived he was found dead beside his gun."
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