Cook, John Thomas

No.523 – Private John Thomas Cook – 16^th Battalion AIF

John Thomas Cook was born in Ballarat Victoria in 1890 but later moved to Western Australia with his family where they took up residence in Fremantle. John later took up work as a Miner. It appears his parents may have split prior to the First World War as when he enlisted into the AIF he named his step mother, a Mrs. S Bell of 101 Victoria RD Fremantle as his next of kin, though after the war on pension forms his mother was named as Sarah Woodyatt of Wardie and later Hickory St South Fremantle.

On 20^th September 1914 John had been working up at Leonora and went to the local recruiting office and offered his services to the AIF. He was passed as fit with the medical officers finding him to be 5 feet 8 ¼ inches in height; weight of 156 lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair.

John was sent down to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was immediately taken on strength of the newly forming 16^th Battalion. John was allotted to “A” Company of the 16^th Battalion. The men trained at Blackboy Camp until November 1914.

As this Battalion was also made up of men from South Australia, the 16^th Battalion travelled across to Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria where they joined the rest of their battalion as well as the other three battalions of their Brigade who came from around Australia. They trained in Victoria until December 1914. On the 22^nd December John and his battalion boarded the transport ship H.M.A.T. “Ceramic” in Port Melbourne.

After a short layover in Albany WA, the men of this contingent travelled onto to Egypt, arriving on February 1^st, where they joined the Australians of the Infantry and Light Horse who had previously left Australia and set up camp. Further training took place while the men were stationed here though in early April they were told to prepare for departure.

The first three infantry brigades had already departed and it was soon the turn of the 4^th Brigade. The 16^th Battalion left Alexandria on the 11^th April 1915. They arrived at Lemnos Island off the coast of Turkey where the final days of preparation were given for the troops.

The 16^th Battalion landed at Gallipoli on the early evening of April 25^th 1915 at approximately 530pm and the men were detailed to head up to what would later be known as Popes Hill. John and the 16^th Battalion were in action for five continuous days at Popes Hill as the Turks continued to press them. On the 30^th April they were relived from this position but unfortunately John was listed as being killed in action on this date.

Unfortunately records as to his fate are sparse and it is not known if he was buried at Anzac or if he died on a hospital ship. Due to his body not being found for burial John Cook is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.

His mother would receive a pension of 52 pounds per annum after his death.