ANZAC Heroes | Great War 1914 – 1918

Bunbury – Wellington District Western Australia

COOKE, Wesley John

COOKE, Wesley John

Full Name: Wesley John

COOKE

Date of Birth: 02

–

1896

Place of birth: Bunbury

Australia

Occupation: Farmer

Address: Cowcowing Lake via Korrelocking WA

Next of Kin: Father-John Henry Cooke Mother-Emily Cooke

Next of Kin Address: Cowcowing WA

Religion: Methodist

Service Number: 7097

Rank: Corporal

Unit/Division: 16th Battalion

Enlistment Date: 1916-08-09

Enlistment Location: Perth

WA

Embarkation Port:

Embarkation Date: 1916-12-23

Embarkation Ship:

Disembarkation Port:

Disembarkation Date: 1917-02-16

Locations Served:

Returned: No

Discharge Date:

Cause of Death: DOW

Date of Death:

Place of Death: Doullens France

Age at Death: 22

Burial Location: Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1- Plot 6 Row F Grave 20

11/07/1916- Completed Medical Examination Perth WA
9/08/1916- To 80 Depot Company WA as Private
1/09/1916- To Depot Signals Company WA
18/11/1916- To 16th Battalion 23rd Reinforcements WA
16/02/1917- To Training Battalion Codford England ex Australia
31/03/1917-To 4th Training Battalion Codford England ex. Isolation Hospital Plymouth
23/05/1917-Disembarked Etaples France  ex. Southampton England
11/06/1917-Joioned 16th Battalion in the field France
11/08/1917-Promoted Corporal in the field France
23/10/1917-Wounded in Action Belgium ( Remained on Duty )
12/02/1918-To Annual Leave England
2/03/1918-Rejoined Battalion in the field France ex. Leave
29/03/1918-Wounded in Action France ( Severe Gun Shot Wound Thigh )
29/03/1918-Admitted 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital Doullens France
31/03/1918-Died from wounds Received in Action ( Died at 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital Doullens France )

 

Service Medals Awarded

British War Medal – No. 55654

Victory Medal – No. 54774

Memorial Plaque/Scroll – No. 341835

 

Memorial Inscriptions

Australian War Memorial Canberra – Panel No. 79

Bunbury War Memorial, Western Australia.

 

Details of Soldier’s Death

Informant O. C. No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital Doullens France to AustralianRed Cross Society-
” No.7087 – Pte. COOKE, W. – 16th Battalion AIF – I regret to inform you that Pte. COOKE was admitted to this Hospital on the 30th March 1918, suffering from a severe wound of the thigh. On admission his condition was very poor  and despite every effort by surgeons , he died the following day. Everything possible was done for him and he was made as comfortable  as could have been done in any hospital  as we were very well equipped.
He was given a full Military Funeral  and attended to , before and after  death, by the Chaplain attached to this hospital. His grave is marked with a cross  and is in the Military Cemetery  which is located near this hospital and is well kept.
Will you kindly extend  to the relatives of the late Pte. COOKE, the sincere sympathies of myself and staff in the loss of one  who was dear to them and who like the thousands of other Australian boys  sacrificed his life  for his Country “.

 

Loss of Soldier’s Personal Belongings at Sea

17 July 1919- Letter from O.C Base Records  to father J. H. COOKE, Cowcowing via Korrelocking WA  _  ” No personal effects  of your son, the late No. 7097- Corporal W. J. COOKE, 16th Battalion, have been received at this office to date.
I regret to inform you that  one package containing your son’s property  as per attached inventory , was included in a consignment  shipped from England per S. S. ” Barunga ” , which vessel was lost at sea  with all cargo, on its way to Australia, as the result of enemy action “.