Duncan Cooke (1893–1918)

Private

Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
3204 & 200902 1/5th Battalion

Biography
Duncan was employed at Ambergate wireworks and was one of the first volunteers who enlisted at Crich in Oct 1914. He attested at Crich on 28th October 1914. He was aged twenty-one and was six foot tall, living at Tor View, Crich Common.

Photo courtesy Crich Heritage Partnership

Crich recruits 1914

Included among these 1914 recruits are probably :
Billy Curzon; Jack Porter; Walter (Wammy) Mellors; Jack Kneebone; Duncan Coooke;
Billy Burr; Noble Tomlinson; Tom Coleman; Billy Frost; Luke Coleman; Jack Cauldwell; George Perry.
It is believed that John Roe, brothers Herbert and Steven Bollington (and possibly John) are also amongst this group.

He was posted to France on 25th June 1915 and died of bronchial pneumonia on 7th November 1918. He was buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.. He had been a keen amateur footballer playing for Crich United and was a member of the Wesleyan Chapel in Crich where he is remembered on their memorial plaque. In the various records his name was spelt both as COOK and COOKE.

Medal Index Record
Awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star Medals.
He entered France 25 June 1915 and died 7 November 1918.

Army Service Record
Duncan attested at Crich on 28 October 1914, aged 21 years, his address was Tor View, Crich Common. He was 6 ft tall. Whilst in France he was admitted to hospital and died of bronchial pneumonia on 7 November 1918.
His parents were George and Hannah Cooke, The Common, Crich; brothers Thomas (40) Sims Farm, Wingfield; George (38) Whittington Moor; John James (35) Somercotes; Wiliam (29) in the Army; and sister Alice Radford (44) The Green Fritchley

Newspaper Reports
He was a member of Crich United Football Club

Derbyshire Courier 30 August 1913
CRICH UNITED
Although accepted as members of the Erewash league, the United, under the ruling of the D.F.A.will again be members of the Matlock Junior League. Possessed of practical members on the committee, an enthusiastic secretary in Mr W. H. Perry, and a good list of serviceable players, the club is hoping to occupy a high position in the league table. Mr Maurice Deacon is the president, and Dr G.G. Macdonald and Mr G.C. Birch are vice-presidents. The committee is comprised of: Messrs. D.M. Brown (chairman), G.V. Ferguson (vice-chairman), Hy. Holtham, Hy. Wetton, F. Ward, Jos. Perry, F. Whitehead, F. and J. Porter, Isaac and William Coleman, C. Harper, I. Hartstone and Jas. Mellors. The majority of last season's players are retained and include A. Crowder (vice-chairman), John Curzon, A. Leafe, Luke Coleman, Tom Coleman, Vernon and Tom Greenhough, D. Cooke, and Wm. Rowe. New players include Jas. Amatt (late Holloway, who is to captain the team and who should provide prove a valuable acquisition), J. Hudson (Holloway), S. Taylor (goal), and A. Matthews (Whatstandwell), while the services of Mr G.C. Birch have been promised. Several other signatures are expected and although the club has lost the services of F. Mellors, who was been signed on by Sheffield Wednesday, Sam Taylor should prove a valuable substitute. The headquarters of the club are at the Black Swan Hotel, and the ground is Jefferies Lane Field. Financially the club is on the right side, a small balance of being in hand.
Mr J. Mellors is appointed groundsmen. And the contract for conveyance of players is let to Mr F. Davis of Holloway. Cup and Medal competitions have been entered for. The first home league match is on Wakes Saturday, Oct. 11th, when Slaley will be entertained.

Derbyshire Courier 11 November 1918
CRICH, LEA, & HOLLOWAY.
News was recived by wire on Wednesday by Mr and Mrs G Cooke, Crich Common, that their son Pte. Duncan Cooke, was dangerously ill with pneumonia. He is in hospital in France.

Derbyshire Courier 16 November 1918
CRICH, LEA, & HOLLOWAY.
A bitter experience befell Mr and Mrs George Cooke, of the Common, Crich, on Monday, four after having heard from their son Pte. Duncan Cooke, a few days previously that he was coming on leave, wire reach them to say he had died of bronchial pneumonia at a base Hospital at Rouen. Pte. Cooke, who was attached to the Sherwood Transport section, had started from the front on leave, but on reaching Rouen was detained there through an attack of influenza. This developed to pneumonia and he died on Thursday of last week. Pte. Cooke joined the Sherwood's about 4 years ago. He was a prominent player of the Crich United football club. Before enlisting he was employed at the Ambergate Mills as a wire drawer he was 25 years of age. His elder brother, Corpl. William Cooke, is in France.

Derbyshire Courier 16 November 1918
CRICH, LEA, & HOLLOWAY.
At Crich Church of England School on Saturday a sale of work in aid of the Prisoners of War Fund was opened by Mrs Dunn of The Tors. Stalls were provided by the Young Ladies’ Class and the Day School children. The former realised £15 11s, and the scholars’ stall cleared £12 11s. With the sale of refreshments and admission charges are some of £30 was realised. Mr J. Haywood had the arrangements in hand.
A bitter experience befell Mr and Mrs George Cooke, of the Common, Crich, on Monday, four after having heard from their son Pte. Duncan Cooke, a few days previously that he was coming on leave, wire reach them to say he had died of bronchial pneumonia at a base Hospital at Rouen. Pte. Cooke, who was attached to the Sherwood Transport section, had started from the front on leave, but on reaching Rouen was detained there through an attack of influenza. This developed to pneumonia and he died on Thursday of last week. Pte. Cooke joined the Sherwood's about 4 years ago. He was a prominent player of the Crich United football club. Before enlisting he was employed at the Ambergate Mills as a wire drawer he was 25 years of age. His elder brother, Corpl. William Cooke, is in France.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Name COOKE
Initials D
Nationality United Kingdom
Rank Private
Regiment/Service Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Unit 1st/5th Bn
Date of Death 07/11/18
Service No 200902
Casualty type Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference S. II. U. 14.
Cemetery ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

War Graves certificate fir Duncan Cooke WW1

War plaque in Wesley Chapel, Crich

Memorial inside the Wesleyan Chapel, Crich

Soldiers' Effects Book
Duncan Cooke; 1/5th Bn Notts & Derby; Private 200902; died 12 General Hospital Rouen France 7.11.18; War Gratuity £23 10s 0d; paid out to:
2.4.19 father George £35 11 s 0d

Duncan Cooke's brother William Cooke is also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
George Cook Head 48 Wire worker Manchester
Hannah Cook wife 49   Manchester
Alice Cook daughter 26   Manchester
Thomas Cook son 23 Railway signalman Manchester
George Cook son 19 Cabinet maker Crich
John J Cook son 15 Wood worker Crich
William Cook son 11   Crich
Duncan Cook son 7   Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 60 page 5

1911: Dial Farm, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
George Cooke Head 58 Wire drawer Manchester
Hannah Cooke wife 58   Manchester
William Cooke son 21 Blacksmith Crich
Duncan Cooke son 17 Wire worker Crich

RG14PN20983 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED12 SN82

1918 Voters List Crich
Duncan Cooke, The Common; absent on military service.