Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Cooke a domestic coachman, born 1871 in Ilmington, Warwks., and his wife Clara, born 1875 in Earl Shilton, Leics. George Arthur was born in 1898 in Normanton, Thurlaston, Leics., he had one sibling, a sister Florence Emily, born 1901 in Earl Shilton, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at River Bridge Cottages, Thurlaston, Leics. In April 1911 George was employed as a hosiery trade runner on and was residing in the family home at 62, Church, Street, Burbage, Leics., together with his parents and sister Emily. The War Diary for today records that the Battalion were in the Support Line at Kemmel Hill. 1 platoon of B Company sent to the front line during the day was not withdrawn during the night, and was left in line all day, the 18th. The line was now very strongly held owing to the arrival of the French troops, but the troops of the two nations were much mixed up. At 8.00am the enemy commenced a heavy bombardment of the area occupied by the Battalion. At 10.00am a report (timed 8.15am) from front line troops, stated enemy massing for attack S.6.b. 20.15 to T.1.b. 10.60. The Commanding Officer of French Battalion stated that enemy had been attacking from the direction of Aircraft Farm, but that the French artillery had dealt with the attack. At 1..25am a report was received from the Commanding Officer of the French right that the attack had been completely repulsed and that the gap of 500 yards made in the front line from Beaver Hall to the left had been occupied by 1 platoon of French troops with two Machine Guns with 1 platoon of British troops with 4 Machine Guns in support. At 12.00 noon Brigade announced that 19th Division on our left would be relieved by the French on the night of the 18th/19th . At 3.00pm warning order received from Brigade that 71st Infantry Brigade would relieve General Wyatt’s Force in front line on the night of the 18th/19th. At 3.30pm a patrol was sent out under 2nd Lieutenant Stimson reported that Beaver Hall was held by the French, Donegal Farm being occupied by the enemy. The line on the left was intact, but not continuous. At 4.00pm the Brigade Major telephone that Battalion would take over the front line on the 18th/19th April from railway at S.6.b. 9.8 to just north of Donegal Farm. B Company would be relieved by a company of 177th Infantry Brigade, HQ’s would remain in present position. Officer Commanding Corps. -?- troops (at present holding front line), Officer Commanding 2nd Sherwood Foresters, Officer Commanding 9th Norfolk Regiment would assemble at Battalion HQ’s at 5.00pm to arrange relief. 2nd Lieutenant Stewart was sent to reconnoitre front to be taken over by the Battalion. At 5.15pm Operational Order number 306 received from Brigade relative to relief. Conference foregathered at 5.20pm discussed relief and broke up at 6.45pm. Officers Commanding Company’s came to Battalion HQ’s and received verbal instructions as to relief which was to commence at 9.00pm. At 8.45pm rations arrived with 3 officers and 98 other rank reinforcements. Casualties, other ranks A Company 11 wounded. B Company 1 killed, 4 wounded. C Company 1 killed, 8 wounded. D Company 4 wounded.