Cook, Ernest Nelson
6224 Private Ernest Nelson Cook - 16th Battalion AIF
Ernest Nelson Cook was born in Fremantle WA on the 16th December 1894 to James Preston and Fanny Cook. He had several siblings with, George (1886), James (1889), Percival (1891), Ernest (1894), Alfred (1896) & Ivy (1899).
Ernest grew up in Fremantle and was educated locally at Fremantle Boys School. The family lived at 52 Bellevue Terrace Fremantle.
He had worked in the timber industry in the South West of the State but was currently working as a motor driver in the Fremantle region.
On the 22nd March 1916 Erniest enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 9 inches tall;
Weight - 136lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Nelson was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.58 Training Depot. On the 16th April 1916 he was then assigned to the 20th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF.
On the 10th October 1916 Nelson embarked from Fremantle aboard the transport ship HMAT Suffolk and set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 2nd December 1916.
After being disembarked, Nelson and his group were sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford on the Salisbury Plains. After reaching England, he was found to have an issue with his right tibia so was kept at base.
On the 31st March 1917 he was detached for duty with the Australian Base Post Office in London. On the 16th April 1917 he was transferred to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. He was there classified as fitness level of C3.
On the 21st April 1917 Nelson went to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. On the 4th May 1917 Nelson left England aboard the hospital ship Runic, disembarking in Fremantle on the 26th June 1917.
On the 17th July 1917 he was discharged from the AIF as medically unfit.
On 19th June 1920 in Claremont Nelson married Rosa Carlyon in the Anglican Church in Claremont and they initially lived at Swanbourne Street Cottesloe Beach.
They would have four children, James (1921), Marjorie (1922), Olive (1924) and Joyce (1930).
During this time in the 1920's Nelson was working for the Fremantle Tramways and the family was living at 52 Bellevue Terrace Fremantle and lived there till his death.
On 12th August 1933 his wife Rosa died and Ernest died soon after on the 19th November 1933 aged 39. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MonA3 0571.