Richard Michael Cooke

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 12/11/2017 - 12:10

First Name:

Richard

Middle Name:

Michael

Last Name:

Cooke

Date of Birth:

Friday, November 20, 1896

Mother's Name:

Sarah Cooke nee MacDonald

Father's Name:

John Cooke

Date Enlisted:

Friday, November 26, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, September 10, 1962

Place of Death:

Sydney, N.S.W.

Details:

Richard Michael Cooke (Service No 5068) was born in Cooma, N.S.W.

At enlistment with the Waratah March in Nowra, N.S.W., he was 19 years old, single, worked as a farm labourer and lived in Kiama, N.S.W.

Richard embarked on SS Makarini with the 1st Battalion, 16th Reinforcement, on 1st April 1916. He arrived in France on 17th May 1916 and joined the 1st Battalion, A Company, in the field, on 18th June 1916. Richard saw service on the Western Front and has no wounding on file. A letter to his mother dated 31st July 1916 tells her he is in hospital sick with bronchitis and that it was caused by a gas attack. He was returned to Australia in July 1919 and discharged on 13th October 1919.

In 1923, Richard married Mabel Irvine in Berry, N.S.W., and they raised one son.

Richard died in Sydney, N.S.W., in 1962 and is commemorated for his service on the Nowra Public School and Post Office Rolls of Honor.

Richard's brother, George Cooke (Service No 709), also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, COOKE R