Bmdr
Frank Guest Cooke

Information about birth

Date of birth:
02/10/1883
Place of birth:
Oldbury, West Midlands, England, England, United Kingdom

General information

Last known residence:
Oldbury, West Midlands, England, England, United Kingdom
Profession:
Labourer

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Bombardier
Service number:
686978
Enlistment place:
Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Royal Field Artillery, 55 Bty. 33rd Bde.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
12/11/1917
Place of death:
Zonnebeke Church - Zonnebeke Kirche, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
34

Cemetery

White House Cemetery
Plot: III
Row: Q
Grave: 7

Distinctions and medals 2

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.

Sources 3

33rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/1694/1).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
War Office: Soldiers’ Documents, First World War (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 363).
https://www.ancestry.com/
Sources used

More information 3