WORKING NOTES

Known as Herbert

Born 11 Dec 1894 (1939) Parents - Frederick & Hannah Jane. Father- China salesman

1901 - 13 Gold St, Neath. 6yo. W parents & 3 siblings - Herbert

1911 - 16yo - Herbert

1920 - 5/6/20. Married Alice Richards, Neath. Add -19 Harle St, Neath

1939 - Woodville, Llandeilo, Carm. DOB 11/12/1894. Occ-Colliery Blacksmith. W Alice, Richard (1921), George (1922) & in-laws

No SR

Enl Jul - Sep 1912, likely Neath so likely 2nd Bty. No 662

Embodied Aug 1914

Original negative at Cambridge Collection. Confirms Cambridge early 1915

France 21/22 Nov 1915

Likely Egypt Feb 1916

Cpl CH Cook, C/266 Bde. Admitted No 34 Combined Clearing Hospital, 7/10/18 - Malaria

Therefore reasonable served throughout with 2nd Battery

Re-enl 721823, Gnr, RFA (T) (30/6/20 - 29/6/21)

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- CH Cook enlisted in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery between July and early September 1912

- Being from Neath, he would most likely joined the 2nd who were based in Neath and Briton Ferry

- He would have attended weekly drill sessions and annual summer camps pre-war

- When war was declared, they had just left for summer camp on Salisbury Plain. They quickly returned to Swansea than moved to Shrewsbury where the Welsh Territorial Division was concentrating.

- After about 3 weeks, they moved again to Northampton and just before Christmas 1914, moved to Cambridge

- In Cambridge, they were inspected by the King and then moved to Bedford at the start of May 1915.

- The rest of the 53rd Division went to Gallipoli, but the artillery stayed behind. They were fortunate as the Division suffered terribly.

- Finally on 21/22 November 1915 the Brigade went to France. We can be certain that CH Cook made this journey from his medal record. His rank at the time was Shoeing Smith Corporal.

- In France they moved to the Somme (which was quiet at the time) and did their front-line training, leaving the line just before Christmas 1915.

- Shortly after, they received orders to join the Division in Egypt and February 1916, they made the dangerous journey from Marseilles to Alexandria

- After acclimatization, they then took over a section of the Suez Canal defences in May 1916 – which was not very exciting.

- Later in the year, their Commander decided attack was the better than defence and in November they started the hot and thirsty march across the Sinai Desert.

- IN 1917, the Brigade (now split between 2 other Brigades – 2nd Battery has become C Battery of 266 Bde) finally came into action, initially fighting in the 2 unsuccessful battles of Gaza and later in the year, the successful 3rd Battle. Shortly after, the pushed the Turks back and finally took Jerusalem. The guns of the Brigade were the first to enter the city which was a huge source of pride for the men.

- In 1918, the army continued to push the Turks back through the Juadaen Hills and into Jordan. The final phases of the war were notable for terrible rates of illness with Malaria running rife through the Army. A surviving medical record makes reference to CH Cook being admitted to hospital in October 1918 suffering from Malaria (like many of his comrades).

- Its possible that he hadn’t made his way back to the Brigade before the armistice. After the Armistice, the army returned to Alexandria and the men took part in a big victory parade in early December.

- The men were initially due to return home shortly after, but civil unrest in Egypt delayed this. The majority of men were finally discharged in March/April 1919.

- For his service in the war, Cpl Cook received the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

- He also rejoined the Territorial after the war and served again.