Pte 33188 Leonard Cook

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 5th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Dickebusch New Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.B.30

Leonard Cook was born in the first quarter of 1892 at Liverpool and baptised on the 17th January, 1892 at St James Church of England Church. His parents, Johan Kock and Margarethe Werner, were German Residents and were married in 1885 at St Michael in the City, Liverpool. For official purposes they Anglicised their names to John Cook and Margarethe(Maggie) Warner. and when their first child George Frederick was baptised on the 9th Feb 1890 at St James, Toxteth, they were John, a pork butcher, and Maggie Cook of 8 Roberts Terrace. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 60 Warwick Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Leonard is 9 years of age and lives with his parents and five siblings. His father is a 44 year old Pork Butcher, whilst his mother is 38 years of age. His siblings, all born in Liverpool are shown as: Hans aged 13, George 11, Margaret 6, William 5 and Helena also 5. Also listed at the property are two of the assistants in the shop: Albrecht Babett and John Turner.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 69 Mill Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His father, John, is aged 55, born in 1856 occupation Pork Butcher and was resident of Germany. His mother, Margaret, is aged 48, born in 1863 is also a pork butcher and a resident of Germany. They have been married for 25 years and had eight children of which one died. Those recorded in the household are listed as; Leonard aged 19, born 1892, Louisa aged 16, born 1895, and William aged 15, born 1896 are assisting in the business. Beatrice is aged 8, born in 1903. The children all born in Liverpool. The other three children Hans born 1888, George born 1890 and Helena born 1896 have left the household by 1911.

Leonard married Margaret Giblin in the December Quarter of 1915 at West Derby Register Office. Maggie was the 19 year old daughter of Patrick and Annie Giblin of 15 Clare Street, Islington. 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 33188 when he died of wounds at 70 Field Ambulance station on the 05th July, 1917 aged 25.

He was reported wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 02 August 1916.

King’s (Liverpools) - Cook, 33188, L. (Liverpool); 

He now lies in Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Belgium, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“THY WILL BE DONE”

The New Military Cemetery was begun in February 1915 (in succession to the Old Military Cemetery near the Church), and was used until May 1917 by neighbouring fighting units and field ambulances. The 31st (Alberta) Canadian Infantry Battalion erected a memorial in it to 22 of their numbers who fell in April 1916. A few further burials took place in March and April 1918. The Extension was used from May 1917 to January 1918.

The New Military Cemetery contains 624 First World War burials, including 8 unidentified. The Extension contains 547 including 5 unidentified. The two cemeteries are treated, so far as possible, as one. The Cross is placed in the Extension, opposite the entrance, and the War Stone by the roadside in the New Military Cemetery.

The site was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Leonard was amongst those listed as DOW in the Weekly Casualty List on 07th August 1917.

Soldiers Effects of £3 17s 1d, war gratuity of £7 and Pension of 13s 9d pw to widow Margaret. 

His death was remembered on the first anniversary in the Liverpool Echo on the 05th July 1918;

COOK - In sad but loving memory of my darling brother LEONARD (Lennie), killed in action July 5, 1917.

Like the ivy on the withered oak, when all things else decay,

My love for you, dear brother, will never fade away.

- Deeply mourned by his sorrowing sister Louis and Willie (in France).

COOK - In sad but loving memory of my dear brother Private LEONARD COOK (Lennie) K.L.R., killed in action July 5, 1917.

Could I, his sister, have clasped his hand, the brother I loved so well.

To kiss his brow when death was nigh, and whisper dear Len, farewell.

- Deeply mourned by his sorrowing sister Lena and George (at sea). 

COOK - In remembrance of Private LEONARD COOK K.L.R., died of wounds July 5 1917.

- Gone but not forgotten by Peggy and all at 109 Walton Road.

COOK - In sad but loving memory of my dear husband Private LEONARD COOK (Len) K.L.R., who died of wounds July 5, 1917.

O Jesus open wide Thine heart,

And let him rest therein.

I little thought when I said good-bye to thee,

It would be the last farewell between you and me.

I loved you in life - you are dear to me still -

But in this bitter grief I must bend to God's Holy Will.

A loving husband, true and kind,

A beautiful memory left behind.

- Never forgotten by his sorrowing wife Maggie and all at 15 Clare Street.

On the 1921 Census Len’s family were living at 21 Edensor Terrace, Anfield. His father, John, is aged 65, an out of work butcher born in Wurttemburg, his mother, Margaret, is aged 56, born in Hessen, with children George 31 (widowed), Louisa 26, Beatrice 18, and a grandson Leonard 2.

His father died, aged 76, on the 16th May 1932 (from a family tree). 

Maggie, date of birth 11th May 1895, remarried in 1920 to John Arthur Sharples, a cycle and radio dealer. They appear on the 1939 Register at 53 West Derby Road with 4 children.

Maggie died, aged 88, in 1984 in Croydon, London.

His mother was living at 5 Oakland Road, Aigburth before WW2 and was exempted from being interned. She was Margaret Koch, born on the 09th May 1962 in Alsfeld, Germany. She died, aged 83, on the Wirral in 1946. 

Leonard is commemorated on the David Lewis Club, Liverpool Roll of Honour.

We currently have no further information on Leonard Cook, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.