Selected Biographies

Cook, Albert – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1881.  Parents: Henry Cook (Rat Catcher) and Emma [née Theobald].  Family Connections: Cousin of to Henry James Cook [b1874].  Home: Bridge Street, Long Melford (1881 to 1911).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901 and 1911).  Service Record: Albert enlisted in 1902 as Pte.5682 with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, joining either 1^st or 2^nd Battalion Suffolks after one month in the Militia.  It is not known if Albert saw service during the First World War as no definitive record has been found.[1]

Cook, George William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 8.5.1897.  Parents: Arthur William Cook (Agricultural Labourer) and Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ [née Steward].  Home: High Street, Long Melford (1901), Hall Street, Long Melford (1911), High Street, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Iron and Wood Turner for David Ward, Agricultural Implement Manufacturer of Long Melford [1916], Maltster’s Labourer (1939).  Married: Annie M.  Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 George was allowed temporary exemption from conscription until his next birthday.  At November’s Tribunal any further exemption was refused.  He was conscripted although his unit is not known as no definitive military record has been found.  However, in December 1919 he was diagnosed with malaria suggesting he had contracted the disease while on active service possibly in Salonika, where infection was commonplace.[2]

Cook, Harry James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 18.6.1874.  Parents: James Cook (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Ann [née Frost].  Family Connections: Cousin of to Albert Cook [b1881].  Home: Hammond’s Cottage, Alpheton, Suffolk (1881), Bridge Street, Alpheton (1891), Back Lane, Long Melford (1901), Hall Street, Long Melford (1911), 9 Woollards Gardens, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891), Gardener (1901), Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Married: Sophia Mothersole in 1905.  Service Record: Recorded as a Soldier at the baptism of his daughter in 1915, although the unit is unknown, he is believed to be Pte.17825 with 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  If this assumption is correct then Harry was transferred as Pte.488115 of the Labour Corps, posted to France from 18.5.1915 and discharged in 1919.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1962.[3]

Cook, Hubert John – Born: Chilton, Suffolk on 2.6.1896.  Parents: John Cook of Long Melford (Railway Signal Fitter’s Labourer) and Mary Ann Sarah Wheeler.  Home: 2 Newmans Road, Sudbury, Suffolk (1901 and 1911), 80 Friars Street, Sudbury (1939).  Occupation: Grocer’s Errand Boy (1911), Shopkeeper and Grocery Provisions Dealer (1939).  Married: Dorothy A. Hume in 1923.  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Hubert may have attested as Pte.2439 with 1/5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  If this assumption is correct then he was posted on 10.8.1915 to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, and renumbered in 1917 as Pte.240587, and taking part in the campaign in Palestine.  Died: Braintree, Essex in 1981.[4]

Notes – [1] See his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].  [2] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 4.7.1897, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  The 1939 Register for Long Melford implies that he was married, however the date of any possible union is unknown.  For the Tribunal’s rulings see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 15.3.1916, 10.5.1916 and 11.10.1916.  See the Infectious Diseases Register of Medical Certificates Received for 9.12.1919 [Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Record Office ref: EF501/4/20].  This document also lists other men who appear in this Nominal Roll and were diagnosed with malaria shortly after returning home, namely: William Charles Boar [b1877], Ernest George Deeks [b1883], Jack Eady [b1892], Ernest Hume [b1882], Arthur James Mills [b1879] and James Nice [b1878].  [3] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 7.11.1875 of Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  For christening of his daughter see Baptism Register 5.12.1915 Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Sudbury, Suffolk.  The Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372], which shows posting as the Balkans, although the date given of 10.8.1915 implies the landing of 1/5^th Suffolks on Gallipoli.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].