| Regimental number | 3055 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Kaikoura, New Zealand |
| School | Kaikoura Demonstration High School, New Zealand |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 31 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Builder |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 33 |
| Height | 5' 5.875" |
| Weight | 145 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs Maud E Cooke, c/o Mrs W Richardson, Sugarloaf, Brookly, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Previous military service | Served in the Wellington Garrison Band, New Zealand |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 24th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/41/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 8th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Victoria Cross Displayed great fortitude and heroism at Pozieres, 22-26 July 1916. Posthumous award. No known grave. Recommendation date: |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Pozieres, Somme Sector, France |
| Age at death | 35 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy. The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra. On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours. After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns. |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 52 |
| Medals |
Victoria Cross "For most conspicuous bravery. After a Lewis gun had been disabled, he was ordered to take his gun and gun-team to a dangerous part of the line. Here he did fine work, but came under very heavy fire, with the result that finally he was the only man left. he still stuck to his post, and continued tofire his gun. When assistance was sent he was found dead beside his gun. He set a splendid example of determination and devotion to duty."
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| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Taken on strength, 8th Bn, Serapeum, 24 February 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 26 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 31 March 1916. Killed in action, France, 28 July 1916. Posthumously awarded Victoria Cross. Note on Red Cross File No 0790910Q: 'No trace Germany. Certified by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.' Medals: Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, COOKE Thomas
Red Cross File No 0790910Q |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
