Private William Alfred Cook

See Notes (1)

William was born at Jung Jung, near Horsham, VIC, in 1890 to William Alfred Cook and Lydia Bonshaw. William married Agnes Mary Devereaux in 1911 and they had at least five children, Agnes born 1912 in Yarra Junction, Lydia born 1913 in Richmond, Packington Joseph born 1915 in Camperdown, Bridget Jane born 1916 in Bacchus Marsh and William born 1920 in Bacchus Marsh - also Molly and Kathleen, born after 1920.

click to enlarge
donated by Darren McLean,
great grandson

click to enlarge
Headstone for William Cook.
Courtesy of Carol & George Judkins.

William enlisted in the AIF, 7^th Reinforcements, 22^nd Battalion on the 6^th of September 1915. He embarked aboard the HMAT A73 Commonwealth at the end of November, disembarking in Egypt in early 1916. William transferred to the 57^th Battalion in February and was then admitted to hospital for three weeks before transferring to the 58^th Battalion in March. In June he forfeited three days pay for attending a gambling school before embarking from Alexandria, disembarking at Marseilles, France.

William transferred to the 15^th Machinegun Company in August. In January 1917 he received a gunshot wound to the right shoulder and was evacuated back to England and admitted to hospital - condition severe. In May he was discharged from hospital and granted two weeks leave. William was attached to the 15^th Training Battalion for home service duty in June before being transferred back to the 57^th Battalion in February 1918 then to the Australian Army Ordinance Corps in May and then finally back to the 57^th Battalion in December.

In January 1919 he embarked for Australia aboard the Ulysses, disembarking in Australia in March. William was discharged from the AIF in April 1919

William died at Caulfield⁽²⁾, VIC in December 1931, aged 41 and is buried at Maddingley Cemetery, Bacchus Marsh.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and possibly the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.

Notes

1. He embarked with the 22^nd Battalion, transferred to the 57^th Battalion then the 58^th Battalion and spent the greater part of his active service in the 15^th Machinegun Company before transferring back to the 57^th Battalion just before returning to Australia.
   The 15^th Infantry Brigade comprised the 57^th, 58^th, 59^th, 60^th Infantry Battalions, 15^th Light Trench Mortar Battery and the 15^th Machinegun Company.
2. Caulfield Repatriation Hospital

Location of Tree Number S064

Tree Position (accuracy ±1 tree) -37.67924828376909, 144.4552066203906

Related Links

• Timeline
• Nominal Roll
• Embarkation Roll
• Service Records
• Unit Diaries - 15^th Machinegun Company

Last updated by lee, Sat, 28 Aug 2021 11:26:04