9099: Saved by a pay book

online resource

posted on 2024-01-19, 10:54 authored by Lest We Forget Project Team

Walter William Cooke was born on 24th January 1888 in Cirencester, Glos. He was one of 10 children, 6 boys 3 emigrated to Canada but served in WWI and survived, as did the other three. Walter joined the Life Guards in 1905; in 1913 he joined the police. On outbreak of war he re-joined his old regiment, as a Trooper, then Machine Gun Trooper, and promoted to Corporal of Horse. On 25th August 1915 he was mentioned in dispatches and received the Cross of St George 4th Class - a Russian medal. Walter was wounded at Rouen, his pay book saved his life, a bullet got lodged in the book. The family asked in 2018 about Russian medal recipients selected but other info rarely disclosed. Walter re-joined the police in 1919 and served until 1939, he died in 1965.

History

Name of contributor(s)

Janice Wheeler

Subject of the story/individual the object(s) relate to

Walter William Cooke

Date(s) the event(s) in the story took place

1915

Location(s) where the event(s) in the story took place

Rouen, France Hondeghem, France

Object(s)

Citation by the Czar. Pay book with bullet hole. 2 photos of Walter Cooke

Community Collection Day

Crownhill Library, Plymouth (20/05/19)

9099: Saved by a pay book

History

Name of contributor(s)

Subject of the story/individual the object(s) relate to

Date(s) the event(s) in the story took place

Location(s) where the event(s) in the story took place

Object(s)

Community Collection Day

Usage metrics

Categories

Keywords

Licence

Exports