Name
Frederick James Cook
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/03/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
19209
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, We are not aware of any memorial in Tyttenhanger Green
Pre War
He was the son of Ernest and Fanny Cook, of Tyttenhanger Green, St. Albans and was born on 31st May 1889 in Tyttenhanger Green, Hertfordshire and lived third cottage away from The Plough PH at Tyttenhanger Green, (1891 to 1911). According to the records of St Mark’s Church he was baptised on 30th June 1889.
The 1891 census records the children as Fred (1) and elder sister Minnie (4). It is sad to note from this census that their neighbours also had sad connections to the Great War. Immediately next door were Arthur George Payne and his parents, William and Lillian, who eventually moved to Colney Heath and next door, but two (next door to the Plough Inn), John and Jane Smith lived with their daughter and son-in-law George and Ellen Brett, and their son George John Brett (4). The 1901 census shows the Cook family growing, with a total of five children: Minnie (14), Fred (now 11), Lizzie (8), George (5) and William (9 months). At the time of the 1911 census Frederick had three brothers, George (15), William (10) and Percy (8); and a sister, Elizabeth (17). The 1891 census recorded another, older sister, Minnie, who by 1911 had married George Dockree. He worked as a domestic gardener prior to the war.
Wartime Service
Frederick enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment in Bedford and was sent to France on 26th July 1915.
Killed in action.
His medal roll index card indicates that his mother, Fanny Cook, had to apply for the 1914/15 Star in respect of the service of her late son.
Additional Information
It is again interesting to note that Edward Reynolds, another death in the Great War, and his family are living two doors away at that time. Both brothers, Frederick and William perished in the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild
