Main CPGW Record
Surname: COOK
Forename(s): Willie
Place of Birth: Padiham, Lancashire
Service No: 4258
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 2/6th Battalion
Division: 62nd (2/West Riding) Division
Age: 36
Date of Death: 1917-03-14
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: II. F. 3A.
CWGC Cemetery: WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: EARBY, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Willie Cook (born 20 August 1882) was the son of Henry Charles and Sarah Cook, née Banks. Henry was born at London and Sarah at Gisburn, Yorkshire.
1891 Padiham, Lancashire Census: 3, Hall Hill Chapel Yard - Willie Cook, aged 8 years, born Padiham, son of Henry Charles and Sarah Thornber Cook.
1901 Earby, Yorkshire Census: Skipton Road - Willie Cook, aged 18 years, born Padiham, Lancashire, son of Henry and Sarah Cook.
Willie was married to Elizabeth Ann Hyatt in 1904.
1911 Earby, Yorkshire Census: 8, White Lion Street - William Cook, aged 27 years, born Padiham, Lancashire, husband of Elizabeth Ann Cook.
The British Army Service Record for Willie Cook exists but may be incomplete.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte William Cook, 6/4258, W. Rid. R. Died 14.3.17.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte William Cook, 6/4258, 2/6 W. Rid. R. Died 14.3.17.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Willie Cook, 4258, 2/6th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 14.3.17. France. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow and Sole Legatee - Elizabeth A. £11 7s. 8d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: Pte Willie Cook, 4258, 2/6th West Riding T.F. Date and cause of death: 14.3.17. Tetanus. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Elizabeth Ann, born 2.11.85. Address: 55, Athol Street, Burnley, Lancs. Children: Jack, born 9.4.09. May, born 5.5.11. Irving, born 21.8.15.
See also:
‘Earby in the First World War’ by Stephanie Carter, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2014).
‘Our Finest Crop’ by Steven Marshall, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2020).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
COOK, W., aged 36, West Riding Regiment, 141, Station View, [Earby], died from frostbite, France, March 14, 1917.
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Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.
Private Willie COOK
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 62nd (2/West Riding) Division
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View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Wimereux Communal Cemetery
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Colin Chadwick, Harrogate
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
23 March 1917
COOK – March 14th, 1917, in hospital at Wimeraux, France, Pte. Willie Cook, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cook, Station View, Earby, aged 36 years.
23 March 1917
EARBY SOLDIER’S DEATH FROM FROST BITE
The death took place on Wednesday week, in hospital at Wimeraux, France, of Pte. Willie Cook, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Hy. Cook, 141, Station View, Earby, and was 36 years of age. He leaves a wife and three children. Pte. Cook’s decease is presumed to have been accelerated by frost bite, as in his last letter to his wife (dated March 9) he wrote:– “I am very ill, and frost bitten all over. It is a wonder I am alive after what I have gone through. I have been like this for a week. They have been very good to me here.”
Prior to enlisting two years ago Pte. Cook was employed as a weaver at Messrs. C. Shuttleworth and Company’s Victoria Shed, and lived at 8, White Lion Street. He had only been in France about six months. Three of his brothers are in the Army.
30 March 1917
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
We are able to reproduce a photograph of the late Pte. Willie Cook, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cook, 141, Station View, Earby. Deceased, who leaves a wife and three children, had been in France about six months, and suffered severely from frostbite, which is presumed to have hastened his death.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
23 March 1917
EARBY SOLDIER’S DEATH FROM FROSTBITE
The death took place on Wednesday week, in hospital at Wimeraux, France, of Pte. Willie Cook, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Hy. Cook, 141, Station View, Earby, and was 36 years of age. He leaves a wife and three children. Pte. Cook’s disease is presumed to have been accelerated by frostbite, as in his last letter to his wife (dated March 9), he wrote:– “I am very ill, and frost bitten all over. It is a wonder I am alive after what I have gone through. I have been like this for a week. They have been very good to me here.”
Prior to enlisting two years ago, Pte. Cook was employed as a weaver at Messrs. C. Shuttleworth and Co’s. Victoria Shed, and lived at 8, White Lion Street. He had only been in France about six weeks.
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