Military History

Embarked Fremantle HMAT ‘Aeneus’ A60 for England 17.4.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 28th Battalion. 12th Reinforcement Australian Imperial Force.
Cook disembarked in England with the 12th Reinforcement 28th Battalion. He marched in to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone. After several months of intensive training, Cook proceeded to France from England 9.9.1916. He was taken on strength with the 28th Battalion in Belgium 24.9.1916, just after the Battle of Pozieres. Cook was admitted to Hospital in Belgium with trachoma 3.10.1916. He was transferred by Hospital Ship ‘St Andrew’ to England and admitted to Wandsworth Hospital, with granula conjunctivitis 11.10.1916. On discharge from hospital, he marched into Wareham from Southall 7.12.1916. Cook proceeded overseas to France 18.3.1917 and rejoined the 28th Battalion 9.4.1917. The 28th Battalion fought at Bullecourt in April/ May 1917. Cook was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the right leg 3.5.1917. He was admitted to Hospital at Rouen, France 5.5.1917 and rejoined his Battalion 8.5.1917.  On recovery and discharge, Cook rejoined his Bn. Cook was wounded at Broodseinde Ridge(in the  October Offensive) receiving a gunshot wound to his head (2nd time wounded) 4.10.1917. On this day the 28th Bn. suffered heavy losses with 91men wounded , 42 KIA and 5 missing (AWM 28th Bn. War Diary). Cook was hospitalised then rejoined his unit 8.11.1917 on the first day of the Allies 100 Day Offensive. The 28th Bn. advanced on to capture the villages of Framerville and Vauvillers in August 1918.( AWM War Diaries 28th Bn). It was in this advance, that Cook was wounded in action 9.8.1918 . He received a gunshot wound to his left knee and arm. (3rd time wounded). He was invalided to England per Hospital Ship ‘Esquito’ 13.8.1918 and admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital, Brighton 15.8.1918. He was transferred to the 1st Australian Hospital Harefield 23.9.1918 and listed for early return invalided with a Shrapnel Wound to his left knee.
Embarked for Australia per ‘Nestor’ 12.12.1918.
Returned/Disembarked 18.1.1919.
Discharged 2.3.1919.
Final Rank Private 28th Battalion. Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition Invalided, wounded with Shrapnel Wound to left knee.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Brother- William Edward enlisted at the same time with 28th Battalion.
Australian War Memorial recorded his SN as 4598, where as it is recorded as 4698 in the National Archives Australia.
Photos HMAT 'Aeneus'. Photograph source State Library NSW image  a636033
             Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H12360
             Soldiers in a shelter, Broodseinde Ridge 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01051
             Framerville, German truck captured in August 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E02912
             No.1 Harefield house and Hospital. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P02402.005
             Cook, C. Image reproduced from the West Australian Newspaper 30.5.1917 p7
     

Information Source
AWM H12360. Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01051. Soldiers in a shelter, Broodseinde Ridge 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E02912. Framerville, German truck captured in August 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P02402.005. No.1 Harefield house and Hospital. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM4 23/45/31. AIF War Diairies 28th Battalion October 1917 Pt 1.
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Clarence Cook
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Cook C T
SLNSW a636033. HMAT 'Aeneus'. Photograph source State Library  of New South Wales
West Australian Newspaper


Byers Rd., Midland Junction, WA.

Associated Images