Mar 21, 1894

Born in Ingersoll, Ontario

Dec 13, 1915

Attested into the 97^th Battalion at the Exhibition Camp, Toronto, Ontario 

Ø      Number 207066

Ø      Next of kin given as Charles Edward Cooke, father, Box 93, Ingersoll, Ontario

o       This was later changed to Mrs. Florence Cooke, wife, 3 Chiswick Lane, Chiswick, London, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Bank Clerk

Ø      Previous military experience given as Queen’s Own Rifles

Ø      Religion given as Baptist 

On attesting, he stated he was born March 21, 1891

Jan 13, 1916

Promoted to provisional rank of Sergeant

Jan 24, 1916

Reduced to rank of Private when, as the Sergeant of the Guard, having a poor turn out for the arrival of Sir Sam Hughes at the Exhibition Camp in Toronto

Jan 29, 1916

Transferred to the 168^th Battalion

Apr 20, 1916

Promoted to the rank of Corporal

May 15, 1916

Attended the Bayonet Fighting and Physical Training Course in London, Ontario

Oct 13, 1916

Reduced to the rank of Private after being involved in a strike by the troops in Camp Borden, Ontario.

Oct 30, 1916

Embarked the SS Lapland in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nov 11, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England

Dec 5, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling to continue training

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the new battalion, it moved to Seaford to continue training

Apr 17, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 18, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 85 reinforcements from England, and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Apr 21, 1917

Left the CBD as part of a draft of 1,384 reinforcements for front line battalions

May 5, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the 2^nd Division Support area

May 11, 1917

While in the reserve lines near Thelus, France, Private Cooke received shrapnel wounds to his hip, leg and shoulder from the explosion of an artillery shell just 6 days after joining the battalion.  He also suffered from a punctured eardrum and a wound to one eye.  He was first treated at the Regimental Aid Post, then transferred to a casualty clearing station for further treatment

May 13, 1917

Transferred to the No. 13 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne

May 16, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St Patrick

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Tankerton Hospital, in Whitstable

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Aug 1, 1917

Transferred to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital

Aug 3, 1917

Transferred to the West Cliffe Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone.  The doctors here note, amongst other conditions, that he suffers from double vision and dizziness

Aug 22, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Hospital in Etchinghill, Lyminge

Aug 23, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Military Hospital, Etchinghill

Sep 2, 1917

Medical Board notes the following

Ø      Well marked flat feet

Ø      Suffers from Bronchitis

Ø      Left ear drum has been ruptured, but is now healed

Ø      Suffers from Tinhitus (ringing in the ears)

Ø      Suffers from concussion deafness

He was declared fit for non-combat clerical work only in England or Canada

Sep 10, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the EORD in Seaford

Oct 15, 1917

Attached to the CAPC (Canadian Army Pay Corps) No. 1 Detachment, London for duty

Nov 15, 1917

Graded for 2^nd Class Clerk Pay

Dec 10, 1917

Graded for 1^st Class Clerk Pay

Jan 9, 1918

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Jun 1, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal

Aug 30, 1918

Granted permission to marry

Sep 1, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant

Sep 13, 1918

Granted leave until September 28, 1918 with free transportation

Oct 1, 1918

Next of kin and pay assignment changed to Mrs. Florence Cooke, wife, 3 Chiswick Lane, Chiswick, London, England

Apr 14, 1919

Granted leave until April 21, 1919

May 8, 1919

Granted leave until May 12, 1919

May 14, 1919

Posted to the General Depot and attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton, pending return to Canada

Jun 23, 1919

Embarked the SS Grampian in Liverpool with his wife, Florence

Jul 2, 1919

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec

Jul 4, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Quebec City, Quebec 

Ø      Rank on discharge Sergeant

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 132900

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge Post Office Box 93, Ingersoll, Ontario

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at PO Box 93, Ingersoll, Ontario 

In 1937 he is noted as the manager of the Industrial Morris Plan Bank in Detroit, Michigan, USA 

In 1962 he is noted as being retired and living in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan acting as a Financial Advisor

Sep 26, 1982

Charles Cooke died in Detroit, Michigan and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery there.