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Sgt. William Matthew Cooke
British Army 13th Btn. Rifle Brigade
from:145 Latchmere Rd, Battersea, London
Billy Cooke enlisted into the Rifle Brigade aged 20 years of age, on 31st of August 1914. He was the son of Alfred and Ellen Caroline Cooke of 145 Latchmere Road, Battersea, London.
He fought in many of the major offensives, including Ypres, Somme and Arras etc. He quickly attained the rank of Cpl and was later promoted to Sjt in the field. After the Armistice was signed he came home for a short visit and had a photograph of himself taken in his uniform and signed it "Yours Ever.... Billy" on 15th of January 1919 he then returned to France and Belgium to "Clean the Trenches Up", sadly he contracted Influenza and was taken to the 55 Clearing Station at Charleroi and on 2nd of February 1919 he died, he was 24 years of age. He is buried at Charleroi Communal Cemetery and his family had inscribed at the base of his grave stone the words "Till we meet again".
A letter that Billy wrote along with a pressed poppy was discovered preserved in between the pages of a Brigade Book that the family had kept. The letter dated Friday 16th of June 1916 is faithfully copied below:
This day last year are full of memories for me
Dear Dad, I received your usual weekly letter last night, I was beginning to wonder, when it was coming. I get to expect it more and more. I am so glad that you were cheered up by my letter and to note the cheerful tone of yours, that is the way old sport, don't give way, but keep smiling the good day that is coming is getting nearer and nearer. I thought Gran would be pleased with the cards. I saw them on a little shop out here and they put me so much in mind of Gran and her old occupation of darning socks that I couldn't resist buying them. I am glad to hear Bert is getting on ok. I have not heard from him again yet, I send him a card every other day and have written him two letters, so that it is his turn to write to me and I am anxiously looking forward to hearing from him. I hope he is transferred to the RGA but I expect it is one of the camp rumours that are always floating around. I am afraid there is not much news from this end. The weather is hardly what one would expect for the time of year, very raw and damp. We have got a decent size rat trap and put it outside the dugout door, we captured 65 in two days and a half. They had a glorious death. First of all we got them out of the trap into a sand bag then drowned them in the urine tub with plenty of Chloride of Lime added. The rats are in mourning round our way now I can tell you.
I have been collecting a few wild flowers from the old trenches round about which I enclose I hope Mum will like them, I will get some more specimens if I can. Many thanks for the trouble you have taken with regard to the bacca I will let you know when I receive it. I think I can manage it all myself unless a pale runs short and I oblige by selling him a tin cheap. I believe it is put up in 1/4lb tins. You see it will keep ok in the tins. Before we came up this time Johnny and I bought 1lb in 1/2oz packets between us and we are drawing near the end. I should think it would last about 1 month. I will let you know when to order the next lot. It is most extraordinarily cheap. I will send you a P.O. in the near future, say about 2 weeks, D.V. so don't get the wind up if you get a registered envelope.
Well Dad I can't think of much else so will wish you farewell. Yours Billy
P.S. I can always sell a tin of Nougling. If I want to easy --- they jump at it. what!
Is Wakeling up yet.
Love to all
Billy was often spoken about by the family and deeply missed yet always remembered.
