Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Cook a domestic groom and servant, born in the April quarter of 1846 in Walcote, Leicestershire and baptised on the 5th April 1847 in St. Leonard’s Church, Misterton, Leicestershire (son on William Cook, 1808 and Elizabeth Goodman, 1806) and his wife Harriet Cook, born 1851 in East Dereham, Norfolk. Frederick was born in the January quarter of 1889 in Brighouse, Rastrick, Yorkshire, in April 1891 the family home was at Misterton, Walcote.
In March 1901 Frederick was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at The Red Lion, Misterton, Walcote, together with his mother, a laundress.
In April 1911 Fred was employed as a grocer’s assistant and was residing at Church Street, Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
Frederick’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Norwich into the Territorial Force. Date not known.
Joined. At Norwich. Date not known.
Posted. To Norfolk Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 6782.
Transferred. To Northumberland Fusiliers. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 9023.
Posted. To 1/4th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, “D” Company. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Reported. Missing in action. In the Field. 15/9/16.
Under the Army Council Instruction (A.C.I. 2414/1916), published on the 23rd December 1916, that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, Frederick was allotted the regimental service number 204016.
Presumed for official purposes to have died on or since. 15/9/16.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Frederick nominated his father John, as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 15 Sep-16 – At 3.00am the dispositions of the Battalion were as follows. Brigade Headquarters – THE QUARRY S.8.b.8.1.
Front line – 4th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS on the right with Headquarters in CLARK’S TRENCH at S.3.c.4.9. 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS on the left with Headquarters at CLARK’S TRENCH S.3.a.1.0.
Support – 6th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS with Headquarters at NEW QUARRY S.8.d.9.9½.
Reserve – 5th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS with Headquarters at OLD QUARRY S.8.b.8.1.
The 150th Brigade occupied the left front and the 149th Brigade the right front of the Divisional Sector. The 151st Brigade was in Divisional Reserve.
The 47th Division were on the right and the 15th Division on the left of the 50th Division. The 18th Battalion LONDON REGIMENT (LONDON IRISH) were on our immediate right with the 19th Battalion in support to them.
At Zero time 6.20am the assaulting troops left their jumping off trenches for the first objective. Just in front of this assault two of the new tanks went forward on the extreme left of the 149th Infantry Brigade. This caused the enemy to send up the S.O.S. signals at once, which after 4 minutes brought down the enemy barrage in front of his own front line just before zero time.
About 7.06am a message was received from Captain PLUMMER from the left Company of the Battalion front, that the first objective had been gained with not much opposition, and that he was in touch with “D” Company and the 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS. Shortly after this wounded men began to come back, but no further messages were received from Companies for some time.
At 7.20am the advance to 2nd objective (STARFISH TRENCH) began, under a barrage extending 50 yards per minute and 1st objective was occupied by a Company of 6th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS under Captain TWEEDY. The Company of 6th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS under Captain COOKE which should have replaced the latter went towards HIGH WOOD and never came under the Command of Commanding Officer 4th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS.
At 7.43am message was received from Brigade that the attack of 47th Division on HIGH WOOD on our right was held up and that 2 more Battalions were going forward. This meant our right flank had to be carefully watched and it was subject to enfilade fire and was in the air.
At 8.20am a further message was received from Brigade, saying left Brigade of 47th Division was trying to work around HIGH WOOD, and ordering the Battalion to assist with Stokes Mortars and Lewis Guns from BETHEL SAP, a trench running at right angles to our jumping off trenches and up our extreme right. Colonel GIBSON having no men in CLARK’S TRENCH wired for another Company to form a defensive flank in BETHEL SAP, and sent 2nd Lieutenant WILSON to obtain information as to the position on the right of our first objective. 2nd Lieutenant WILSON reported that top of BETHEL SAP and right of first objective was swept by Machine Gun fire from HIGH WOOD. Shortly after Captain DUMFORD 6th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS and his Company placed at the disposal of Colonel GIBSON by Officer Commanding 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS. Half this Company were sent to BETHEL SAP and half to the left of 1st objective to work along ½ right and form a defensive flank.
At 9.45am a message was received from Brigade, saying, Division directed that HOOK TRENCH must be made good and strengthened as far right as Divisional Boundary. The strengthening of this and BETHEL SAP was completed as far as possible and the flank made secure. Bombing parties of Germans from HIGH WOOD were dispersed by our Machine, Lewis Guns and Stokes Mortar fire.
At 10.35am a Company of 5th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS under Lieutenant DAGLIESH arrived and garrisoned CLARK’S TRENCH. At 10.40am 2nd Lieutenant WILSON was again sent forward to obtain more information as to positions in first objective. Half of Lieutenant DAGLIESH’s Company was sent up to 1st objective to bomb round HOOK on right and get touch with BETHEL SAP.
At 11.30am Heavy artillery bombarded North West corner of HIGH WOOD and as the 47th Division gradually worked round HIGH WOOD the enemy commenced retiring and were again caught by our Machine Gun fire. About 100 Germans caught by this surrendered. HIGH WOOD was then cleared step by step. News of our frontal attack on our 2nd and 3rd objectives came in slowly, only disconnected statements from wounded men for some time being received.
At 11.40am 2nd Lieutenant WILSON returned confirming his previous report. Lieutenant WESTROPE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY responded that all Officers of “C” Company were hit and that he had taken on the Company till he himself was hit, after which a Corporal had led it against the 2nd objective which it appeared to gain.
At 12.00 Noon the whole of 6th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS, supporting Battalion, being up in various parts of the attack, Colonel SPAIN, Officer Commanding 6th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS moved his Headquarters up to CLARK’S TRENCH.
At 3.30am Colonel GIBSON moved his Headquarters forward to HOOK TRENCH. This was badly knocked about. Men of the 4th, 5th, 6th and a few of 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS were found all muddled up here. Colonel GIBSON then organised the whole of this objective, getting all the various Battalions together and establishing connection on the extreme right with Battalions of 47th Division. At this period there were 100 men of 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS in SUNKEN ROAD in front of HOOK TRENCH. All men of the Brigade further forward had become casualties, except a handful who withdrew with 2nd Lieutenant BROWNE about 1.30am (16th instant) on the arrival of part of 47th Division. This was the situation at dusk and the position of affairs that was reported to Brigade.
About 7.38pm the 151st Brigade came through the 1st objective, namely HOOK TRENCH to attack and consolidate the 2nd and 3rd objectives, about which the situation had been uncertain all day. This attack did not succeed.
On Friday November 3rd, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS. – Mrs. Harriet Cook, of Walcot, near Lutterworth writes with reference to Private F. Cook, 9032, Northumberland Fusiliers, whose name has appeared amongst the missing in the official casualty lists. She would welcome any information.
[recognitum III-XI-MMXXIII]