COOK, Hugh John
| Service Number: | 640 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 September 1914, An original of C Company |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Camberwell, Victoria, Australia, 26 July 1891 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Perth Boys School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Mining Engineer |
| Died: | 1975, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 640, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), An original of C Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Sergeant, 640, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Sergeant, 640, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 7 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 21 Mar 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 24 Feb 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Hugh John Munro Cook was born in Camberwell Victoria on the 26 July 1891, along with his twin brother, William Ernest Speechley Cook. Their Dad was John Joseph Cook who was from the Camberwell area. Unfortunately, their mother Louisa died of tuberculosis during October 1893, when the boys were only 2 years of age. When Louisa died, the Cook family went to live with her mother, Kitty, in Camberwell. The twins had two older sisters and Dad, John Joseph Cook apparently decided to have go at gold mining in Coolgardie during 1894. In 1898 he had returned but was killed in a cycling accident, fracturing his skull when crashed descending a steep hill in Balwyn Victoria. The twins were still only six years of age.
Kitty, their grandmother was now caring for all the children, and she moved to Perth in 1899. The family was well reasonably well off as the boys had good educations at Perth Boys School and Perth Technical School.
Hugh John Cook enlisted into the original 16th Battalion 28 September 1914. Hugh was 23 when he joined up and gave his occupation as a mining engineer. He was made a sergeant straight away, was WIA just after the Landing 28 April 1915, (GSW left shoulder), transferred to England to recover and sent back to Gallipoli late July 1915. He was made a 2nd Lieutenant in the field on the 7 August 1915. Was evacuated crook during September 1915. Promoted to Lieutenant during March 1916. Awarded the MC 4 October 1916.
“For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He led forward his machine guns into ‘No Mans Land’ prior to an attack in order to deal with the enemy machine guns if they held up our advance. Later, he went forward in the first wave of the attack, and, under heavy fire, established a strong point to cover the battalion during its consolidation. He subsequently did other fine work.”
WIA 3 December 1916 (GSW head) and evacuated to England. Returned to France March 1917 and promoted to Captain. WIA for a third time 8 August 1918, (GSW thigh) and again evacuated to England. He was back in France just in time for the armistice. He was promoted to Major in February 1919 and awarded a Mention in Despatches during March 1919.
His twin brother Lieutenant William Ernest Speechley Cook was killed in action at Lagnicourt on the 26 March 1917.
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