COOK, Robert, Hector and William

Robert, Hector, and William the sons of Thomas and Janet Cook, were born at Kirkcally, Fife, Scotland. They came to Australia with their father and two brothers in 1901.

Robert, a Sawyer at Ashford NSW enlisted in October 1915 and agreed to serve from 25 November 1915. As his attestation papers record that he was rejected due to lack of dental attention, this most likely delayed his departure until 12 January 1916 when he joined The First Contingent of The Kurrajongs.

Twenty-one-year-old Robert became a member of the 33rd Battalion, A Company which sailed from Australia in May 1916. They trained at Salisbury Plain, England until sent to France in November. Robert was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 1917. He was gassed in April 1918 and sent to Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, England for treatment, going back to France in October. He returned to Australia in 1919.

Hector enlisted in March 1916 and was one of the nineteen volunteers who left Inverell on 29 March. He had been employed as a Machinist by builder BM Wade who presented Hector with a watch prior to his departure. He left Australia in the transport ship Beltana in May with the 36th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement. This Battalion was also part of the 3rd Division which trained in England before being sent to France. Hector’s war only lasted a few weeks as he was Killed in Action on 22 January 1917 and buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. He was twenty-seven years old. His name is inscribed on the Inverell Cenotaph.

William enlisted at Inverell in October 1915 when he was nineteen. He had been working as a Sawyer near Ashford and had previously been rejected because he needed dental attention. He was one of three men given a farewell at Inverell Council chambers where they were presented with an Inverell Medal and socks . William became a member of the 18th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement and departed Australia for England on the ship HMAT A15 Star of England in March 1916. After training in England, he was sent to France in September. The following year he was appointed Lance Corporal and transferred to the 5th ALTM Battery. William was wounded in action in 1917 and later that year appointed Lance Sergeant. He became ill in March 1918 and required hospital treatment for several months. William returned to Australia and was medically discharged in December 1919. He lived in Sydney during the 1930s and died there in 1961.

The names of Robert, Hector and William are recorded on the Inverell and Ashford Honor Rolls.

Photo: Hector Cook, courtesy IDFHG Inc