Nov 26, 1886

Born to Joseph and Jane Cook in London England

Dec 25, 1912

Married to Grace Croucher at Chatham, Ontario

Jan 11, 1915

Attested into the 33^rd Battalion at Chatham Ontario 

Ø      Number 400518

Ø      Next of kin given as Grace Cook, wife, of 62 Murray St., Chatham, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø      Previous military service given as 4 years in the 24^th Regiment, Canadian Militia

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to “B” Company

Feb 1, 1915

Promoted to the rank of Corporal

Jul 6, 1915

Shown to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Aug 11, 1915

Posted to the Reinforcement Company

Aug 17, 1915

Embarked the SS Hesperian at Montreal Quebec as part of the Battalion’s 2^nd Reinforcing Draft

Aug 27, 1915

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to Shorncliffe.  On arrival there the draft was absorbed into the 9^th Reserve Battalion

Jan 5, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Jan 6, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 227 reinforcements.  On arrival he was TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion and reduced in rank to Private as the Battalion had a full compliment of NCOs

Jan 15, 1916

Left the CBD to join the Battalion

Jan 18, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in Brigade Reserve at Ridgewood, in Belgium

Apr 14, 1916

While the Battalion was in billets in the “B” Camp they were supplying work parties to improve the “P” and “Q” front line trenches.  While on one of those work parties, Private Cook received shrapnel wounds to his back and a compound fracture of the right arm. 

After initial treatment at a Casualty Clearing Station he was transported to hospital by the No. 24 Ambulance Train

Apr 16, 1916

Admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, France and Bronchitis is added to the diagnosis

Apr 20, 1916

Listed as dangerously ill and the Bronchitis is changed to read Haemothorax Pneumonia, meaning that there was blood in the lungs

Apr 23, 1916

Pte Cook died of his wounds, complicated by the onset of Pneumonia and was buried in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery,
Boulogne, France

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow, Mrs Grace Cook, at 62 Murray St., Chatham, Ontario. 

A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs J Cook, at 41 Ainsty St., Rotherhithe, London, 16, England.

Joseph Cook shown below with his wife Grace and daughter prior to embarking for England

Jul 15, 1920

The balance of the War Service Gratuity ($116.00) was issued and it appears that his widow had remarried, as the cheque was issued to “Mrs Grace Campbell (Cook), Widow” at 108 Raleigh St., Chatham Ontario