COOKE, Ira
| Service Number: | 961 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles |
| Born: | Cowflat, New South Wales, Australia, 31 January 1873 |
| Home Town: | Auburn, Auburn, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Primary level |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia, 12 October 1941, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Trooper, 961, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Barker Gary
Ira Cooke was born in Cowflat, near Bathurst NSW, on 31 Jan 1873 to William and Mary Cooke. Very little is known of his life prior to his enlistment in the NSW Contingent, 2nd Battalion Mounted Rifles, for service in South Africa, during the Boer War. After serving one year and 144 days on active service, he was discharged on 12 Jun 1902. His service was recorded as exemplary and he was awarded a graturity of £5 (approximately $750 in 2022).
On 25 Mar 1903 he married Eliza Duff (aged 18) in Bathurst. The couple moved to the Auburn area, near Sydney, and went on to have seven children with at least two of them serving in World War 2.
By the early 1930's the couple had moved to Ourimbah, near Gosford, where Ira gained employment as a road worker. He died on 12 Oct 1941 with his wife dying on 6 Aug 1966 in Toowoomba, QLD.
Information acknowledged to the Cooke Family.
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