Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Researched and Written by The Cardwell and District Historical Society, Cardwell Queensland.
Ernest William (Ernie) Cook was born on 16 January 1889, the youngest of a family of eight children. His parents, Absalom Thomas and Maria Cook (née Day) came to Cardwell with their family in 1884 from the Bohle River near Townsville. They lived in a shingle-roofed house facing Bowen Street, on land now within railway property.

Absalom (Alf) served on the Cardwell Divisional Board from 1888 to 1892 but he died in June 1893. He was in the logging business and was accidentally killed at the old Hull River landing at the junction with Carmoo Creek. Maria took over the licence for the Marine Hotel some time later and by 1902 had purchased the freehold. Ernie and his younger brothers and sisters attended Cardwell School.

In the early 1900s Ernie was engaged in manufacturing soft drinks at the Marine Hotel. His lemonade and other drinks were sold in white glass containers with a marble at the top as an automatic stopper. He also assisted his mother in running the hotel. He was secretary of the Cardwell Cricket Club and stood for council in 1915 but was unsuccessful. He continued his interest in local matters, acting as scrutineer for John Bunting at the 1916 elections.

Ernie enlisted at Townsville on 3 April 1916. He was assigned to the 4th Reinforcements for the 41st Battalion (service number 2286) and sent to Bell’s Paddock Camp. On his return to camp after home leave before going to Europe he was given a send-off at the home of the Winter family in Cardwell on 2 August 1916, a farewell attended by many friends.

He embarked from Brisbane on 21 October 1916 on HMAT Boonah, and arrived in England for training before he was posted to the Front on 28 June 1917. The 41st were in action in Belgium at this time. Cook served as a Signaller but was wounded in action on 2 August 1917 and hospitalized for three weeks before returning to his battalion. He then suffered multiple gun shot wounds on 4 October in the same year when the 41st Battalion captured its objectives at Broodseinde. From hospital he rejoined the battalion on 22 November.

Ernie Cook was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. The citation stated:

On the 24th April 1918, near Vaux-sur-Somme this man a Linesman, worked continuously under very heavy enemy artillery fire maintaining communications between Battalion and Brigade headquarters. Although badly shaken by shell fire and often working in his gas mask he succeeded in carrying out his duty. The enemy fire was intense, and the bravery and devotion to duty shown by this soldier was a splendid example to his comrades. He was assisted by No. 2143 Private Thomas Penberthy a Signaller. These soldiers working together rendered communications possible by their plucky action at a critical period.
The citation was signed by Major General John Monash, GOC Third Australian Division.
Cook was appointed Lance Corporal in May 1918. After the war, while in London in early 1919 he attended Clerk’s College, Chancery Lane and undertook an accountancy course. He embarked on the Main on July 1919 to return to Australia and was discharged from the army on 30 November. He did not return home immediately as he was unaware of his mother’s extremely poor health. Sadly, he arrived in Cardwell just after her death in October 1919.

Ernie took over his mother’s hotel, the Marine Hotel. He married Louisa Clara Franzmann on 5 July 1920. He revived the Cardwell Racing Club and organized race meetings. The funds from the race meetings were put towards the building of a public library for the town and a School of Arts was actually completed on Balliol Street by February 1923.

In 1920 Ernie Cook and other Returned Servicemen wrote to Council requesting permission to erect a memorial to fallen soldiers near the jetty. His request was carried unanimously and the present memorial on the foreshore is the result. He nominated for Council in 1921 but was not successful. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Cardwell cemetery at this time.

Ernest Cook died of a gun shot wound at the age of 33 and was buried in the Cardwell cemetery on 1 February 1922. Council sent a letter of condolence to his wife on her bereavement.