Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Albert Edward Cooke a brickyard labourer, born 1877 in Whitwick, Leics., and his wife Clara, born 1876 in Whitwick, Leics. William Herbert was born in 1901 in Whitwick, Leics., he had one sibling, a brother Thomas H., born 1899 in Whitwick, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Kimberley Cottages, Hermitage Road, Whitwick, Leics. In April 1911 William was no longer residing in the family home at 46, Clarence Street, Loughborough, Leics., with his father, now a life insurance superintendent, his mother and siblings, Thomas H., Rose, born 1904 in Whitwick, Leics., and Winfred, born 1907 in Shepshed, Leics. This information is uncorroborated, and therefore may not relate to the name on the inscribed on the memorial. The War Diary entry for events from the 24th to the 30th September 1916 records. East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about a 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday September 7th, 1917

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mr Isaac Limb, of Green Lane, Whitwick has been informed that the War Office are regretfully constrained to conclude that his adopted son, Private William Henry Cooke, of the Leicestershire Regiment reported wounded and missing on September 25th, 1916, died on that date or since. Deceased was 23 years of age and was a former scholar at the Whitwick Church School. He joined up soon after the war stated and had been on active service in France for some considerable time. This makes 33 Whitwick soldiers officially reported killed.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 19/12/2017