COOK, William Brett
| Service Number: | 741 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 August 1914, An original of G Company |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cranleigh, Shalford, Essex, England, 20 February 1882 |
| Home Town: | Leongatha, South Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Musician |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 17 August 1961, aged 79 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 741, 8th Infantry Battalion, An original of G Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Sergeant, 741, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Sergeant, 741, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Melbourne | |
| 28 Apr 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 26 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Mar 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 8th Infantry Battalion, Illness - Rheumatism |
Help us honour William Brett Cook's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Cook served at the Anzac landing and right through the Gallipoli campaign. He was recommended for a Military Cross for his work at Pozieres. Promoted through the ranks he was a Captain at the time, and Lewis Machine Gun Officer. He was awarded the Montenegrin Silver Medal for Bravery, and later Mentioned in Despatches in November. He was evacuated to England for medical treatment for an illness in January 1917 and then returned to Australia where his appointment was terminated on medical grounds on 12 March 1918.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From AWM
741 Sergeant (Sgt) William Brett Cook from Leongatha Victoria, 8th Battalion AIF having just awakened in the desert from a nap on a spell during manoeuvers. A 32 year old musician prior to enlisting on 20 August 1914, he embarked for overseas during October 1914. After a stopover in Albany, Western Australia, they arrived in Egypt on 2 December 1914. Following further training in Egypt, the battalion took part in the Gallipoli landings on 25 April as part of the second wave. Sgt Cook was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 4 August 1915 at Gallipoli and then after the evacuation back to Egypt, he was promoted to Lieutenant on 20 February 1916. He went with the battalion to France in March where he was awarded the Montenegrin Silver Medal for Bravery during an attack on Pozieres and later Mentioned in Despatches in November. After being promoted to Captain (Capt) on 31 December 1916, he was evacuated to England for medical treatment for an illness in January 1917 and then returned to Australia where his appointment was terminated on medical grounds on 12 March 1918.
Click images to start slideshow.