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