S3655
COOK, Frank Clifford
| Service Number: | 1279 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 11th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Wakefield, South Australia , 31 January 1894 |
| Home Town: | Uraidla, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Natural causes, Uraidla, South Australia , 6 January 1950, aged 55 years |
| Cemetery: |
Summertown Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Norton Summit Uraidla Methodist Sunday School Roll of Honor, Uraidla & Districts Roll of Honour 1 |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 1279, 11th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: SS Hawkes Bay embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 1279, 11th Light Horse Regiment, SS Hawkes Bay, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Trooper, 1279, 11th Light Horse Regiment |
Help us honour Frank Clifford Cook's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Frank Clifford Cook was born in Wakefield South Australia on the 31st of January 1894. He had blue eyes, brown hair, 5.95 feet tall and was a Methodist. His mother’s name was Ellen Cook and his father’s name was George Cook. Before the war he was a gardener. He joined the army on June 9th, 1915, at the age of 21. He was part of the 11th Light Horse Regiment and was a trooper with a service number 1279. He left Adelaide on 16/5/15.
During the war:
The 11th Australian Light Horse Regiment, which was formed in Egypt as part of the Light Horse brigade, and he was part of the C squadron. He was sent to train in Egypt where he became a marksman and horseman. He fought at Gallipoli in August 1915, where he saw action at Quinn's Post and Lone Pine. Cook was wounded during the campaign and was evacuated to a hospital in Egypt. After recovering from his injuries, Cook re-joined his unit in Egypt and took part in the battle of Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula. He fought at the Battle of Romani in August 1916. He also took part in the battles of Magdhaba and Rafa.
On the 19th of September 1916, he used bad language and complained to a commander and punished losing 4 days pay and receiving the 2nd Field Punishment. In early 1917 he was sent to Palestine, he fought at the Battle of Beersheba, where he and his squadron charged the Turkish trenches and captured the town. Cook also took part in the battles of Gaza and Jerusalem. He neglected to obey an order on the 6th of October 1917 he was fined 7 days pay and Field Punishment 2.
In 1918, Cook was promoted to the rank of corporal and took part in the final Allied offensive in Palestine. He was involved in the capture of Amman and the Turkish surrender in October 1918.
Overall, Cook and his regiment played an important role in the Allied war effort in the Middle East, they participated in fierce battles against the Ottoman Turks. The 11th Light Horse was known for their mobility and endurance, which was key in the desert environment of the Middle East. Cook's bravery and dedication to his duty during his service in the war earned him recognition and respect from his fellow soldiers and commanders.
After the war:
He married his girlfriend Alice, he died of natural causes on the 6th of January 1950 at Uraidla, South Australia, he 55-years-old.
Reference list
AWM4 Subclass 10/16 - 11th Australian Light Horse Regiment n.d., www.awm.gov.au, viewed 31 March 2023, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338846>.
Frank Clifford COOK n.d., vwma.org.au, viewed 31 March 2023, <https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/285640>.
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