Name
Thomas George Cook
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/07/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16477
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA CHAUDIERE MILITARY CEMETERY, VIMY
IV. D. 13.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley
Pre War
Thomas George Cook was born in 1891 in Hemel Hempstead, the son of Joseph and Mary Cook, and baptised at St Paul's Church, Hemel Hempstead on 19 July 1891.
On the 1901 Census he was living with his grandparents, William and Emma Cook at Potten End, Hertfordshire where his 69 year old grandfather was working as a general labourer.
Prior to enlistment he worked for John Dickinson & Co Ltd at Apsley Mills and lived at 11 Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war, Thomas enlisted in Watford in August 1914 and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment. After basic training he was posted to the 1st Battalion and sent to France the following year on 2 February 1915, joining the 1st Battalion in the field on 8 February as part of a draft of 80 men.
He fought in the Battles of Neuve Chapelle, Hill 60, Ypres in 1915 and the Battle of Delville Wood and other operations during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
On 23rd April 1917 the Battalion attacked La Coulotte, a small hamlet on the Arras to Lens Road. Thomas was killed in action by enemy machine gun fire and is buried at La Chaudiere Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £12 and pay owing of £8 2s 10d. He also received a pension of 5 shillings a week, later increased to 6 shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.roll-of-honour.com., www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk.,
