attd. 1st, Battn. Leinster Regt., 2nd _s._ of the late Robert
Walter Travers Bowen-Colthurst, of Oak Grove, etc., J.P., by his
wife, Georgina de Bellasis (Oak Grove, Killinardrish, co. Cork), only
dau. of Alfred Greet, of Dripsey House, co. Cork, J.P.; _b._
Oak Grove, Killinardrish, co. Cork, 15 Sept. 1883; educ. Harrow and
Trinity College, Cambridge, and on leaving the latter in 1905 joined
the staff of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, first as assistant private
secretary, and later as vice-chamberlain, which post he held until
1912. He then undertook work in connection with the Irish Department
of Agriculture, and later succeeded the Earl of Carrick as Inspector
for Irish Agricultural interests in Great Britain, which post he held
until the outbreak of war. Acting on his conviction that every man
ought to be trained in time of peace for the defence of the country,
he had joined the 4th (Special Reserve) Battn. of the Leinsters in
1910, received his Lieutenancy, 12 March, 1912, and, volunteering for
Imperial service, was gazetted Capt. 14 Aug. 1914. He went to the
Front on 5 March, 1915, and was killed in action on the 15th of that
month at St. Eloi. Lieut.-Col. C. B. Prowse, commanding 1st Leinster
Regt., wrote: “The battn. had to retake some trenches which had been
lost by another regt., and your husband bravely led his men and took
and occupied the trench as he was ordered to. But early the following
morning he was shot through the head over the parapet of a trench, and
died, I hear, without pain--in fact, death was instantaneous. During
the few days he was with us he had done splendid work and behaved most
gallantly, and the men would follow him anywhere, and I do greatly
sympathise with you and yours in your loss, and the regt.’s loss, too.
I am sending your husband’s name to the General for ‘gallant conduct,’
and I also enclose a note which he wrote previous to the night attack,
which was to be given to you.” And a brother officer: “I know Col.
Prowse has written to you, but I think, perhaps, you might like to hear
a second account of everything that happened. It might throw fresh
light on details that you have heard from the commanding officer. Your
husband arrived up here last Thursday week, 11 March. We were just
going to start our eight days’ tour of duty in the trenches and were
marching to them. He, with Capt. Radcliff from the 5th Battn., joined
just about 5 p.m., when we were having a halt for tea. I remember how
delighted I was to see him again, as he had always been so good to me,
and it was just like a link with home seeing him again. He and Capt.
Radcliff came with us into the trenches, your husband taking command of
A Coy. We came out of the trenches again on Saturday night, arriving
in our billets about 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, the 14th. I did not see
much of him that day, as we were all sleeping off the effects of the
48 hours in the trenches. About 4.30 p.m. in the afternoon of Sunday,
the 14th, a tremendous bombardment by our guns started. We were very
soon turned out and hurried up to a ruined village not far behind the
trenches. We learned that the Germans had captured our trenches, and it
was decided that we must counter attack at 2 a.m. on Monday morning.
Your husband was detailed with his company to recapture a trench, No.
20. He was full of keenness and enthusiasm about it, as he was always
about everything. Just before midnight, before we started off, I met
him in the dressing station, where he gave a letter to Dr. Kenny, our
medical officer, asking him to send it to you by registered post if
he was killed. The medical officer said ‘Nonsense,’ not to talk that
way, as he would not be killed. Your husband replied cheerfully that
it did not worry him a bit, only he wanted the letter sent if he were.
After that we started off. He was ahead of me. About 12.45 I caught him
up with my company, and gave him a lot of empty sandbags we had been
carrying for his company. This was about 500 yards from the enemy’s
trenches, and the bullets were flying about. I said ‘Good-night,’
wishing him the best of luck. He was very cheery and happy then. That
is the last time I saw him alive. From Coy. Sergt.-Major Kershaw, whose
home address is 22, Clarendon Street, Bradford, I got the following
details. He was with your husband the whole time. At 2 a.m. they
charged and captured the trench, any Germans who were in it running
away; but after some time found they were being so hotly fired on
into the trench from the right flank that they decided to fall back
into a trench just behind. As they did this a young subaltern, named
Buchanan, of the Irish Fusiliers, who was attached to A Coy., was badly
wounded. As soon as your husband got his company into a trench behind,
he, with the Coy. Sergt.-Major and a volunteer, went back under heavy
fire and brought Buchanan into the trench. By the time it was 5.15
a.m., just daylight. At 5.30 a.m. the Sergt.-Major saw a lot of men
retiring out of the left flank of the trench they were in, and went to
see what it meant. Your husband followed him. They were walking along
inside the trench, but your husband’s head must have been exposed
(his height was 6 feet 4 inches), for a bullet came over the parapet
and went right through his head. He knew nothing about it, but just
dropped, death being instantaneous. It would seem almost as if he had
a premonition of his death, as several times he repeated to his Coy.
Sergt.-Major, ‘Be sure, if I am shot, that you bury me where I fall,
as I am too big and heavy for the men to carry in.’ Up to the very
end he was always thinking of others. He was buried as soon as it was
dark on Monday evening, 15 March, in a little plot of ground on the
left hand side of the road just as you leave the ruined village of St.
Eloi for Ypres. This spot is exactly opposite the last ruined cottage
on the right as you leave the village. We are going back to this post
to-morrow evening for another eight days’ work. I am getting the Battn.
Sergt.-Major--Sergt.-Major Shaw--who buried him, to point me out the
spot, so that I will know should I ever return alive. I can then tell
you exactly. A wooden cross with his name and regt. will be put up
to mark the place. I am very glad to say I understand the commanding
officer is recommending your husband for the D.S.O. for the good work
he did that night.” He _m._ at. Bilton, near Rugby, 7 Dec. 1907,
Winifred, dau. of the late Rev. Charles Frederick Cumber West, Vicar
of Charlbury, Oxford, and had a son and three daus.: Charles Patrick
Russell, _b._ 25 Feb. 1913; Peggy Winifred Isabel, _b._ 2
Aug. 1909; Honor Georgina Beatrice, _b._ 13 Sept. 1911; and Marian
Elizabeth Hope, _b._ 12 Oct. 1914.
[Illustration: =R. M. Bowen-Colthurst.=]
=COLUMBUS, FRED=, Private, No. 912, D. Coy., 1st Newfoundland
Regt., 2nd _s._ of Frank Columbus, of Shallop Cove, St. George’s
Newfoundland, by his wife, Susan, dau. of Peter Benoit, of Flat Bay,
Newfoundland; _b._ Shallop Cove aforesaid, 18 April, 1893; educ.
Shallop Cove and Grand River, Newfoundland; was a Lumberman; joined
the Newfoundland Expeditionary Force, 3 Jan. 1915; left for England in
March, went to the Dardanelles, 19 Aug. 1915, and died at Alexandria,
Egypt, 9 Oct. 1915, of wounds received in action at Gallipoli on
the 1st (?); _unm._ Buried in the Chatby Military Cemetery at
Alexandria.
=COLVIN, ROBERT ALEXANDER=, Capt. and Adjutant, 2nd Battn. West
Yorkshire Regt., _s._ of the late John C. Colvin, of Sutton Veney,
co. Wilts: _b._ 5 Nov. 1889; gazetted 2nd Lieut. West Yorkshires,
18 Sept. 1909, and promoted Lieut. 2 July, 1909, and appointed Adjutant
1 Aug. 1913; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was
killed in action on the Western Front, 12 March, 1915; _unm._
=COLYER, REGINALD JAMES=, Leading Seaman, 194323, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COMYN, WILLIAM NUGENT=, L.-Corpl., No. 119777, 2nd Battn. The
Wiltshire Regt., _s._ of Francis Sarsfield Comyn, Master Mariner,
by his wife, Eliza Jane (209, Alcester Road, King’s Heath, Birmingham),
dau. of George Barber, and only gdson. of the late Capt. William
Nugent Comyn, R.N. [descended from the Comyns of co. Clare]; _b._
Upton Park, London, 27 Feb. 1881; educ. privately in Birmingham; was
independent; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and enlisted in
the Wiltshires at Lavington, 8 Sept. 1914, trained at Weymouth; was
promoted L.-Corpl. Nov. 1914, went to France 12 Dec., and was killed in
action at Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915; _unm._
=CONDRON, EDWARD=, Stoker, P.O. (R.F.R., B. 8605), 295103, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=CONDUITT, ROBERT BRUCE=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Seaforth
Highlanders, yr. _s._ of Henry Walter Conduitt, of 38, St. Alban’s
Road, Edinburgh, late Examiner of Public Works Accounts, India, by his
wife, Agnes Lennox, dau. of Robert Bruce; _b._ Allahabad, United
Provinces, India, 13 April, 1890; educ. Edinburgh Academy and Fetter’s
College, Edinburgh; was by profession a banker, and had been attached
to offices in Scotland, Canada and India. He served in the Queen’s
Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers for a year, and in the 4th Battn. Royal
Scots (T.F.) for the same length of time, and joined the 14th Battn
(London Scottish) The London Regt. 4 Aug. 1914, the day before the
declaration of war. He went with them to France on 19 Sept. 1914, and
served in the trenches throughout the winter of 1914–15. On 3 April he
was given a commission in the Seaforth Highlanders, and joined on the
12th, being killed in action in the front line of trenches close to
Neuve Chapelle four days later, 16 April, 1915. He was buried in the
cemetery at Vieille Chapelle; _unm._ Capt. A. R. Baillie Hamilton,
1st Battn. Seaforth Highlanders, wrote: “Although he had only joined
my company the day we moved into the trenches (12th), I saw a great
deal of him during the few days, and I formed a very high opinion of
him, and was congratulating myself on having such a nice lad posted to
me. He seemed to get on exceptionally well with the men, and I have
overheard several nice things said of him by them. He had the makings
of a really efficient officer.”
[Illustration: =Robert Bruce Conduitt.=]
=CONGDON, RICHARD HENRY=, Stoker, P.O., 2nd Class (R.F.R., A.
1829), 123974, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept.
1914.
=CONN, GEORGE DENHOLM=, Private, No. 24466, 13th Battn. (5th
Royal Highlanders of Montreal), 3rd Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary
Force, _s._ of Neil Stalker Conn, of Stevenston, by his wife ...
(Park Avenue, Brockville, Ontario, Canada), dau. of Robert Montgomery;
_b._ Ardrossan, co. Ayr, 10 March, 1896; educ. Public School,
Saltcoats; went to Canada, 10 March, 1911; enlisted in Aug. 1914, on
the outbreak of war; left with the first contingent in Oct., and after
training on Salisbury Plain during the winter, went to France in Feb.,
and was killed in action at the Battle of Langemarck, 24 April, 1915;
_unm._
[Illustration: =George Denholm Conn.=]
=CONNELL, GILBERT=, Private, No. 2387, 1/5th West Yorkshire Regt.
(T.F.), 3rd _s._ of Joseph Connell, of 6, Barlow Terrace, Denison
Road, Selby, Churchwarden at Selby Abbey, by his wife, Celia; _b._
Selby, co. York, 10 April, 1892; educ. Abbey Church School there;
served his apprenticeship as a fitter and engineer at Messrs. Cochrane
& Sons, Ltd., shipbuilders, Selby, and on the outbreak of war joined
the 1/5th West Yorkshires in Sept. 1914. He was killed by a grenade
at Ypres, 21 July, 1915, two Harrogate Territorials, who were in the
trench with him, also meeting their death from the same explosive.
He was _unm._, and was buried just behind the trenches. His
commanding officer wrote: “He was an excellent and cheery soldier.” One
of his brothers is at the Front, and the other has joined the Army.
[Illustration: =Gilbert Connell.=]
=CONNELLAN, PETER MARTIN=, Capt. and Local Major, 1st Battn.
Hampshire Regt., only _s._ of Major James Hercules Fitzwalter
Henry Connellan, of Coolmore, Thomastown, co. Kilkenny, J.P., D.L.,
formerly Hon. Col. 5th Royal Irish Regt. and Capt. Hampshire Regt., by
his wife, Laura Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Ussher Roberts; _b._
Sale, co. Chester, 19 Feb. 1882; educ. Harrow, and was gazetted 2nd
Lieut. to the 1st Hampshires (then in India), 8 Jan. 1901, being
promoted Lieut. 30 Nov. 1903, and Capt. 9 May, 1907. He served in
Aden, 1903–4, took part in the operations in the hinterland, and acted
as signalling officer to the brigade under Brig.-Gen. Scallon with
the Boundary Delimitation Commission, and was present at the attack
by Arabs on the camp at Awabil; also in the expedition against the
Kotaibis. He was Adjutant to the 1st Battn. Hampshire Regt., 23 Oct.
1906, to 22 Oct. 1909, and of the Hampshire depot and 3rd Battn.
from 23 Jan. 1911, to Jan. 1914, when he rejoined the 1st Battn. at
Colchester. The Battn. left for the Front in the 11th Brigade, 4th
Division, in the third week of Aug. 1914, and was closely engaged in
covering the British retirement from Mons, the Division earning the
warm approval of the Commander-in-Chief. Capt. Connellan bore a very
conspicuous part in holding the railway line near Caudry on 26 Aug.,
being under heavy fire all day in a most exposed position, also in the
retirement on Ligny, and subsequent engagements. On 7 Sept. 1914, he
was promoted Tempy. Major (a rank which he continued to hold until he
fell), and given the command of his battn., which he retained during
the engagements at the Marne and the Aisne. After being relieved by
the French near Buez-le-Long on 4 Oct. the Brigade was engaged in
the neighbourhood of Armentières, to the north-east of which Major
Connellan fell (shot through the neck by shrapnel) on 20 Oct., when
second in command of his battn. He was buried at Pont-de-Nieppe. Major
Connellan was twice mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette, 9 Dec.
1914, and 17 Feb. 1915), and especially recommended for promotion
and reward by his Brigadier, who described him as one of his ablest
commanders and a born soldier. He was a keen sportsman, a fine rider,
very fond of hunting and salmon fishing, also of games; was a member of
the battn polo team, and a good player of hockey, tennis, Badminton,
etc. He held the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society for saving
one of the men of his regt. from drowning. Major Connellan _m._
at St. Thomas’ Church, Winchester, 18 Oct. 1911, Winifred (New Empress
Club), 3rd dau. of the late Arthur Niblett, formerly of Haresfield
Court, co. Gloucester; _s.p._
[Illustration: =Peter Martin Connellan.=]
=CONNER, RICHARD=, Major, 2nd Battn. Gloucestershire Regt.,
2nd _s._ of the late Capt. Daniel Conner, of Ballybricken,
Monkstown, co. Cork, Royal Marine L.I., J.P., by his wife, Emily,
dau. of Henry Steigen Berger, of 30, Cleveland Square, Hyde Park;
_b._ Ballybricken aforesaid, 29 Dec. 1868; educ. St. Edward’s
School, Oxford, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; received
his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Gloucesters, 11 Feb. 1888, and
was gazetted Lieut. 3 July, 1889, Capt. 26 May, 1897, and Major, 25
Oct. 1907; served through the South African war, 1899–1902, took part
in operations in Natal, 1899, including actions at Rietfontein and
Lombards Kop (slightly wounded), and afterwards on Staff as Station
Officer and as Commandant at Kaffir River Bridge, also in operations
in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, July, 1901, to 31 May,
1902, mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Queen’s medal with
three clasps, and the King’s medal with two clasps; and with the
Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Dec. 1914, to 9 May,
1915, when he was wounded and taken prisoner at Ypres, and died in
London, 7 Sept. 1915, after exchange as an incapacitated prisoner of
war; _unm._
=CONNETT, HENRY=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., B. 885), H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=CONNOLLY, EDWARD=, Corpl. No. 90396, R.F.A., 3rd _s._
of Thomas Connolly, of 16, Mary Street, Sunderland, Riveter, by
his wife, Frances, dau. of Peter Patrick, of Sunderland; _b._
Southwick-on-Wear, 7 Nov. 1890; educ. National School there; was
employed at Priestman’s, Sunderland; joined the R.G.A. (T.F.) and
rose to the rank of Sergt., taking his discharge in June, 1914, as
medically unfit; rejoined 16 Aug. following for the period of the war,
and died of wounds, 12 Dec. 1915, received in a farmhouse near Ypres;
_unm._ He was buried in O-Beal Cemetery.
[Illustration: =Edward Connolly.=]
=CONWAY, JOHN=, L.-Corpl. No. 73535, D Coy., 28th Battn. Canadian
Expeditionary Force, eldest _s._ of Patrick Conway, of Ivy
Cottage, Ennistymon, co. Clare, ex-Sergt. Royal Irish Constabulary,
by his wife, Hanna, dau. of William O’Sullivan, Bonane, Kenmare, co.
Kerry; _b._ Iries, Castletownbere, co. Cork, 13 July, 1874; educ.
Bantry and Castletownbere; enlisted in the Grenadier Guards about
1894, and served with the Sudan Expedition, including the Battle of
Omdurman and the capture of Khartoum; and through the South African
war, 1899–1902 (receiving three medals). He then went to Canada about
1906 and settled in Ottawa, and was working on the railroad, but on the
outbreak of the European war joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force,
came over with the second contingent, and was killed in action in
Belgium, 17 Oct. 1915; _unm._ He was in charge of a machine gun,
when a shell fell within 15 yards of his post, killing him and three
more instantly. His commanding officer, Major C. R. Hill, wrote: “He
was a splendid soldier, and on the 16th had been promoted L.-Corpl. He
died at his post, and no man could do more.”
[Illustration: =John Conway.=]
=CONWAY, JOHN CHARLES=, Mechanician, 282316, H.M.S. Hawke; lost
when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _unm._
=COOK, ALFRED JOHN=, A.B., 211035, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action
in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COOK, BERNARD HENRY=, Rifleman, No. 2361, 12th Battn. (The
Rangers) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Frederick Thomas
Cook, of Harleston; _b._ Harlesden, N.W., 11 Dec. 1895; educ.
Upper Latymer School, Hammersmith, and the Polytechnic, Regent Street;
joined The Rangers, Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 15
Feb. 1915, being buried in Menin cemetery, near St. Eloi. He was just
finishing his three years’ course as an architectural student.
=COOK, EDGAR PRESTON=, Corpl., No. 6780, 1st Battn. Canadian
Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Robert Cook, of Loring, Ontario,
Canada, by his wife, Rovy, dau. of John Currie; _b._ 6 Feb. 1896;
educ. Loring Public School; enlisted 23 Sept. 1914; came over with the
first contingent in Oct.; went to the Front, 7 Feb. 1915; was commended
by his Commanding Officer, 4 June, 1915, for gallant and distinguished
conduct in the field at the Battle of St. Julien, and promoted
Corpl., and was killed in action at Festubert, France, 15 June, 1915;
_unm._
=COOK, EDWARD=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./1323, H.M.S. Cressy; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept 1914.
=COOK, EDWARD=, Private, No. 2642, 1/7th Battn. Durham L.I.
(T.F.), 2nd _s._ of George Cook, of Thornley, Fruiterer and
Florist, by his wife, Annie, dau. of John Peel; _b._ Thornley,
co. Durham, 12 Jan. 1891; educ. Council School there, Henry Smith’s
Secondary School, Hartlepool, and the Training College for Teachers,
Sunderland, 1909–11, and having obtained his certificate was appointed
assistant master at the Thornley Council School, which post he held
at the outbreak of war. While going through his course at Sunderland
Training College he had joined the Territorial Battn. of the Durham
L.I., and on 9 Sept. 1914, volunteered for Imperial service. He left
Gateshead for France on 19 April, and on arrival the Durham L.I. were
immediately sent up to the trenches at Ypres, and he was killed in
action there on Whit Monday, 24 May, 1915; _unm._ His body was
found six weeks afterwards in front of the first line of trenches and
buried by a comrade. His yr. brother, Private Percy Cook, Durham L.I.,
also a trained teacher, was killed in action on the Somme, 27 July,
1916.
[Illustration: =Edward Cook, Durham L.I.=]
=COOK, EDWARD PERCY=, Bugler, R.M.L.I., Ch./17952, H.M.S. Cressy;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COOK, ERNEST VICTOR=, Private, No. 656, 90th Winnipeg Rifles,
Canadian Expeditionary Force, 2nd _s._ of Thurstan Cook, of
16, Killarney Road, Wandsworth, S.W., formerly of Ryder Street, St.
James’, Military Boot Maker, by his wife Lucy, dau. of John Palmer;
_b._ Wandsworth, 16 May, 1887; educ. Sir Walter St. John’s School,
Battersea, and on leaving school entered the employ of Messrs. Tyser &
Co., shipping insurance agents, and afterwards of Lloyds. Leaving for
Canada in Nov. 1910, he was for a time at Montreal, and then went to
Winnipeg. When war was declared in Aug. 1914, he immediately joined
the 90th Winnipeg Rifles, and came to England with the first Canadian
contingent, which arrived at Plymouth, 14 Oct. 1914. After training on
Salisbury Plain during the winter months, he went to the Front early
in 1915, and during the heavy fighting at Ypres, 22–25 April, suffered
badly from gas poisoning, but recovered and was in the trenches again
in May. He was hit by shrapnel at the Battle of Festubert on 20
May, 1915, and died a few hours later, being buried in Bethune Town
Cemetery; _unm._
=COOK, FRANCIS JOSHUA=, Cook’s Mate, M. 2956, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=COOK, FREDERICK=, Private, No. 10356, 2nd South Wales Borderers,
only _s._ of William Cook, of 15, Tre-Edwards, Rhymney, Brewery
Worker, by his wife, Annie, dau. of Aaron Powell; _b._ Rhymney, 11
Aug. 1891; educ. there; enlisted 23 Feb. 1910; served in South Africa,
31 Jan. 1912–3 Oct. 1912; North China, Oct. 1912 (including Battle of
Tsing-Tau); and with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and was
killed in action at the Dardanelles, 25 May, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Frederick Cook.=]
=COOK, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Private, No. 7105, A Coy., 1st Battn.
Norfolk Regt., 2nd _s._ of Arthur Cook, of 30, Long Street,
Ipswich, by his wife, Amelia, dau. of James Thorrington; _b._
Ipswich, 12 Nov. 1891; educ. there; joined the Special (Army) Reserve
in 1911; _d._ 11 July, 1915, from wounds received in action at
Blauvepoort, near Ypres; _unm._ His Commanding Officer, 2nd Lieut.
Kenney, writing on 12 July, said: “He was working in the trenches the
night before last when a bullet struck him in the back, afterwards
passing through his side and arm,” adding: “He is a great loss to the
regt. but died a noble death in doing the finest thing any man can
do--giving his life for the sake of his country.”
=COOK, HAROLD=, Private, No. 113, 21st Battn. 6th Brigade,
Australian Imperial Force, _s._ of the late James Cook, of
Stockwell, Marble Mason (who _d._ 1889); _b._ Stockwell,
London, 30 July, 1885; educ. Stockwell College; went to Australia,
5 Dec. 1913, and settled at Melbourne; enlisted there in Feb. 1915;
served in Egypt and at the Dardanelles and _d._ of pneumonia in
No. 15 Base Hospital, Alexandria, 28 Dec. 1915; _unm._
=COOK, HARRY JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 113688, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=COOK, ROBERT=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 8030, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost
in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=COOK, WILLIAM EDWARD=, Seaman, R.N.R., 3171 C., H.M.S. Cressy;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COOK, WILLIAM GEORGE=, L.-Corpl., No. 1916, 1/5th Battn. The
Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Alfred Henry
Cook, of Bank Cottage, South Ascot, by his wife, Mary Jane, dau. of
William Rew Maunders, of Bristol; _b._ Warfield, co. Berks,
25 May, 1890; educ. Rangleigh Elementary School, Windsor Forest;
was a carman for Mr. Corbett, Builder, Bagshot; joined the Surrey
Territorials, 19 Feb. 1909; volunteered for foreign service after
the outbreak of war, and was sent with his battn. to Lucknow, where
he was promoted L.-Corpl. In May, 1915, a call was made for a draft
of men from the 5th Queen’s to join the 2nd Norfolks, then engaged
in operations in the Persian Gulf, and Cook was one of those who
volunteered. He was drowned in the Tigris, 6 Aug. 1915, when on duty;
_unm._; an officer wrote that he was one of the best of their
N.C.Os. and that he “was full of keenness at his work and cheeriness on
the march, and an excellent example of smartness both on and off duty.”
[Illustration: =William George Cook.=]
=COOKE, ALBERT EDWARD=, Coy. Sergt.-Major, No. 8455, 1st Battn.
Duke of Cornwall’s L.I., _s._ of Edward Cooke, of 35, Langton
Street, Cathay, Bristol, retired Army Warrant Officer and Barrack
Master, late M.W.D., India, by his wife, Elizabeth Catherine, dau.
of W. Davis; _b._ Bareilly, India, 6 Sept. 1889; educ. Military
School, India, and Secondary School, Gloucester; enlisted in the 1st
Battn. Duke of Cornwall’s L.I. 20 Aug. 1906, and served seven years
with the Colours and then passed into the Reserve. He held the Army
Acting Schoolmaster’s certificate, and as long as the rules permitted
he had charge of the Depot Military School at Bodmin, Cornwall. On
leaving the Army he joined the City of London Police Force, and was
attached to the Clock Lane division until called up on the outbreak
of the war, 5 Aug. 1914. He was killed in action in France on 4 June,
1915; _unm._ The officer commanding (Lieut.-Col. M. Turner),
1st Duke of Cornwall’s L.I., wrote that he “Was killed in action
early yesterday morning (Friday). He was accompanying the company
commander, Capt. B. Woodham, D.S.O., round the trenches--the night was
a very dark one--and was shot in the head, dying shortly afterwards.
The medical officer informs me that he could not have felt any pain
whatever, which may be a comfort for you to know. I myself had known
your son for some years, and he was at Bodmin with me when I commanded
the depot. His loss is very deeply deplored by all here--officers,
N.C.O.’s, and men. He was one of the finest, if not the finest, N.C.O.
in the battn., utterly fearless and daring, a splendid disciplinarian,
and an all-round good fellow. He is a great loss to the battn. and
to the country. He had been recommended by Major Canton (he was in
command when I was home wounded) for a commission, and we are all sorry
that he did not live to receive it. He was buried yesterday (Friday)
afternoon in our regimental cemetery here, a charming little spot, and
I and several officers and as many men as could be spared attended the
funeral. I trust you will accept the deepest sympathy of the battn., of
which your son was one of the best, in your bereavement. He died like
a soldier for his King and country.” Of his three brothers, Lieut. J.
H. Cooke, 11th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, was killed in action
at the Dardanelles landing; Corpl. W. D. Cooke, of 5th Divisional
Cyclist Coy., is now (1916) a prisoner of war in Germany; and Sergt.
A. W. Cooke was (16 Sept. 1914 to 4 Jan. 1915) Drill Instructor to the
15th Gloucesters, and was then with the 13th and later with the 16th
Battns., returning to Police duty 6 Jan. 1916.
[Illustration: =Albert Edward Cooke.=]
=COOKE, JOSEPH HENRY=, Lieut., 11th Battn. Australian Imperial
Force, _s._ of Alfred Edward Cooke, of 35, Langton Street, Cathay,
Bristol, retired Army Warrant Officer, and Barrack Master, late M.W.D.,
India, by his wife, Elizabeth Catherine, dau. of W. Davis; _b._
Dinapore, India, 26 Oct. 1882; educ. in Military Schools in India;
enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1899, and served with them 12
years; went to Western Australia and settled at Wickepin; volunteered
on the outbreak of war; was made Sergt. and later promoted Lieut.;
served at the Dardanelles, and was killed in action there 2 May, 1915.
He _m._ at Malta, Rosie (Wickepin, Western Australia), dau. of
(--) Peffers, and had three children. His brother, Coy. Sergt.-Major A.
E. Cooke, was also killed in action.
[Illustration: =Joseph H. Cooke.=]
=COOKSLEY, ARTHUR GEORGE=, Gunner, R.M.A. 8388, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COOLEY, FRANK=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9339), S.S.
106582, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COOLEY, JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4035), S.S. 102438,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=COOLEY, WILLIAM JAMES=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./7606 (R.F.R., B.
880), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COOLING, JOHN JOSEPH=, Private, No. 379, 2nd Battn. Australian
Imperial Force, 2nd _s._ of John Joseph Cooling, of Windgates, co.
Wicklow, by his wife, Sarah, dau. of Thomas Boyd; _b._ Windgates,
31 Jan. 1891; educ. Bray National School; went to Australia in 1910 and
settled at Sydney. On the outbreak of war he volunteered and joined the
Commonwealth Expeditionary Force in Sept. 1914, leaving for Egypt with
the first contingent. He was severely wounded on 26 April during the
historic landing at the Dardanelles, and was invalided back to Cairo,
but rejoined his unit in July. Shortly afterwards he was reported as
missing, and later was officially stated to have been killed in action
between 6 and 9 Aug. 1915; _unm._