Private
COOK, GEORGE THOMAS
Service Number 58771
Died 30/04/1918
Aged 19
2nd/8th Bn.
West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
Son of James and Ellen Louisa Cook, of Great Bookham, Surrey.
Buried at MONT HUON MILITARY CEMETERY, LE TREPORT
Location: Seine-Maritime, France
Number of casualties: 2365
Cemetery/memorial reference: VI. G. 5A. INSCRIPTION: THE STRIFE IS O'ER
THE BATTLE WON
George's parents were married on 19 Apr 1897 at St Nicolas, Great Bookham:
James Cook, a Gardener, son of George Cook, a Carpenter. James was born in
Fetcham, Surrey.
Ellen Louisa Archer, who was three years older than James, was a cook,
born in Romsey, Hampshire. Her father, Thomas Archer, also born in Romsey,
Hampshire, was a Labourer
George Thomas Cook's birth was registered in the 3rd Quarter of 1898 (Epsom District Vol 2a p34) and he was baptised on 2 Oct 1898 St Nicolas, Great Bookham. He was an only child, named after his grandfathers.
In the 1901 Census,
the family were living at Davis Cottages near Bookham Common (Bookham
in Edwardian Times, based on the 1911 Census, records a Davis
Cottage, in 2014 98 Little Bookham Street):
James Cook 33 Gardener, Domestic: Born Fetcham, Surrey
Ellen Cook 36 born Romsey, Hants.
George Cook 2
William Laker 69 Boarder: Railway Pensioner, born Penge
George is mentioned by
Turville Kille in his memoirs as having been a choir boy at St Nicolas,
Great Bookham.
By the time of the 1911 Census they were living at Merry Lands
Cottages, Gt Bookham, Leatherhead, Surrey. His grandfather, Thomas Archer,
had come to live with them:
James Cook 43 born Fetcham Surrey Jobbing Gardener
Ellen Louisa Cook 46 born Romsey Hants
George Thomas Cook 12 Scholar born Great Bookham
Thomas Archer 69 born Romsey Hants: Father-in-law
The reference in Bookham in Edwardian Times is Household 12/098. The 2014 address was 20 Merrylands Road.
George's Record of
Service Paper in the British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
records that he stated he was 18y 7m old on enlisting at Guildford on 7th
March 1917. His address was Merrylands Road, Bookham Surrey, his father
was J Cook. George was a Motor Engineer but he wished to join the Royal
Horse Artillery. He was at that stage allocated to the Army Service Corps
(MT). When he died he was with the 2nd/8th West Yorkshire Regiment.
Surrey Advertiser 11 May 1918
ROLL OF HONOUR
COOK - On April 30th, 1918, at the 3rd General Hospital, Le Trepart
[Treport], France, George Thomas Cook, 2/8th West Yorks Regt., age 19
years. Dearly loved and only son of Mr. and Mrs. J.Cook, 2, Merrylands
Road, Great Bookham.
His parents James and Ellen, are buried in the Churchyard at Great Bookham, reference D79.
background research: Frank Haslam & Bill Whitman: if you can add to
this page please contact the editor
page added 10 Feb 2018: updated 11 Feb 2018