Bmdr
Frank Guest Cooke
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 02/10/1883 |
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Place of birth: Oldbury, West Midlands, England, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Oldbury, West Midlands, England, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Bombardier |
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Service number: 686978 |
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Enlistment place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Field Artillery, 55 Bty. 33rd Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Zonnebeke Church - Zonnebeke Kirche, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 34 |
Cemetery
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White House Cemetery Plot: III Row: Q Grave: 7 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Frank Guest Cooke, a former relaying labourer for the Great Western Railway, was born on October 2, 1883 in Langley, West Midlands, England. He was the first child of James Randall Cooke (a former music teacher and organist) and Sarah Louisa Cooke. He had four brothers and seven sisters. He enlisted in Birmingham, West Midlands. He served in the 55th Bty of the 33rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery, part of the 11th (Northern) Division. His brother Hubert served in the 2/4th Kings Shropshire Light Infantry and his brother Philips served in the merchant navy. Both his brothers survived the war.
British artillerists, together with Canadians, were positioned in Zonnebeke during this time, behind the ruins of Zonnebeke Church. On November 11, 1917 the 55th Battery relieved a Canadian Brigade. On November 12, 1917 they were heavily shelled while using their 15 cm Howitzers in Zonnebeke. Three men of the 33rd Brigade were killed this day: Cooke, Berry and Howard.
Frank Guest, aged 34, was killed in action on November 12, 1917. Bombardier Cooke was initially buried where he fell, near Zonnebeke Church (28.D.28.a.10.70). After the war, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the White House Cemetery, Plot III, Row Q, Grave 7.
British artillerists, together with Canadians, were positioned in Zonnebeke during this time, behind the ruins of Zonnebeke Church. On November 11, 1917 the 55th Battery relieved a Canadian Brigade. On November 12, 1917 they were heavily shelled while using their 15 cm Howitzers in Zonnebeke. Three men of the 33rd Brigade were killed this day: Cooke, Berry and Howard.
Frank Guest, aged 34, was killed in action on November 12, 1917. Bombardier Cooke was initially buried where he fell, near Zonnebeke Church (28.D.28.a.10.70). After the war, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the White House Cemetery, Plot III, Row Q, Grave 7.
Sources 3
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33rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/1694/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers’ Documents, First World War (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 363). https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/454465 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/937736 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=3e30786a-94a0-487d-a926-b4f1b5a44ce5 |