Norfolk's Honor Roll

[796556 A.H.H.286] -- Pte. Geo. W. Cook of Simcoe has been reported wounded.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

How Private G. W. Cook
 won Military Medal

France, June 20th

To the Editor of The Reformer.
Dear Sir,
The people of Simcoe will no doubt be glad to hear how one of their boys won the much prized military medal. Private George William Cook (453790) of the 58th Canadian Infantry Battalion, was awarded the Military Medal on 17 May 1917 for gallant and self-sacrificing conduct in caring for the wounded.

Private Cook was a stretcher bearer in B Company. On one occasion in Vimy village when a number of men of the 40th Canadian Battalion had been wounded, he went voluntarily to their assistance with shells dropping around and bricks from neighboring buildings falling on him and bruising him considerably, and dressed 15 of the wounded artilleryman. On this occasion he was wounded by shrapnel in the hand.

Since then he was again wounded and sent to hospital.

Pte. Cook was one of four brothers who enlisted from Simcoe. One of them was killed in June last year., and the other three have all be wounded. The parents of these boys live in Simcoe and they may well be proud of their gallant boys.

Sincerely yours,
D. D. Gunton,
Capt., 58th Batt., C.E.F. 
 

Norfolk Casualties

453790 -- George William Cook of Simcoe.
Gassed.
 
 

Private George William Cook

Recently reported as having been gassed. This young hero won the Military Medal some time ago. Afterwards he was awarded the French Cruix de Guerre. At the beginning of the late offensive he required a third coveted decoration, the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His brother here in Simcoe, has the photographs of three husky Roche soldiers that George William accounted for in succession one morning.
 

Norfolk Casualties

453790 -- Private George William Cook, m.m., d.c.m., 
of Simcoe. The second son of Corporal [Ross] Cook to be killed in action. He been awarded the Military Medal, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre as well.
 
 
 

Capt. Gunton praises Pte. George Cook

The following letter is from Capt. D. D. Gunton, to Mrs. J. R. Cook of Simcoe, mother of the late Geo. W. Cook, D.C.M., M.M., recently killed in action:
 

France, 9 Oct 1918.

My Dear Mrs. Cook,--You have no doubt been notified from Ottawa of the death of your son George, who was killed in action during an attack on Cambrai a few days ago.

You have my heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow. May God bless and comfort you in this time of trouble.

Your son was a brave soldier and has done excellent work in all the hard fighting which we had during the past two months. 

For the good work that he had done during our very successful attack on 8 Aug 1918 he was recommended for the D.C.M., and was given a bar to his Military Medal, which means that he has twice won the Military Medal. He was certainly a brave soldier and we are very sorry to lose him. It is sad to think that so many of our young men must be sacrificed, but we must defeat the beastly Hun and we are doing it right now.

fYour son was buried in a little cemetery just outside of Cambrai, along with many of his comrades.

My wife's brother, who recently joined our battalion, was reported missing on the same day that George was killed and I am afraid that he too is dead, but we have not as yet been able to find the body.

Give my regards to Harry and tell him that I am still carrying on the old job. I am the only one of the original officers left with the battalion now and hope to remain with it until the end of the war, which I think is not far distant. now. Your family has surely done their bit in this war.

You all have our sympathy in your great loss.

Sincerely yours,
D. D. Gunton,
Captain.

In Memoriam

In loving memory of George William Cook, who was killed in action at Cambrai, [..] Sep 1919. Mother, Father, Brothers and sisters, who all loved him.