Cook, George Sydney
2118 Private George Sydney Cook - 51st Battalion AIF
George Sydney Cook was born in Melbourne Victoria on the 5th October 1895 to Caroline Cook
While he was still young he came to Western Australia where he lived with his Aunt Florence Cook at Jandakot. Florence soon moved to King Street East Fremantle.
Prior to the Great War, George was working as a Stockman.
On the 12th April 1915 George enlisted into the AIF up at Geraldton. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 10 inches tall;
Weight - 122lbs;
Chest Measurement - 30-34 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Light Brown.
After his successful enlistment George was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 6th Reinforcements of the 11th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next few months.
On the 6th June 1915 George boarded the transport ship HMAT Geelong in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt where they arrived by the end of the month.
On the 31st July 1915 George departed Egypt for France, arriving at Gallipoli on the 6th August 1915. George had arrived just in time for the 11th Battalion's attack at Leane's Trench.
Despite success at Leane's Trench, the crucial heights and positions were not taken along the line and the fighting dragged on particularly in the northern around Hill 60 until late August.
Geoge came through these actions without being wounded, but the horrible hot conditions, filled with the decaying dead which also caused much disease among the troops had an effect.
George was suffering from dysentery and was evacuated to Lemnos on the 28th August 1915 and from there was sent on a hospital ship to Malta. He was hospitalised in Malta until October 1915.
On the 17th October 1915 he left Malta and rejoined the 11th Battalion on Mudros on the 25th October 1915. The 11th Battalion were then having a rest from Gallipoli but retuned to the peninsula on the 5th November 1915.
The decision had been made to evacuate Gallipoli and the 11th Battalion returned to Egypt in January 1916. With the large amount of reinforcements now in Egypt it was decided by the Australian Command to increase the size of the AIF. So, the original 16 Battalions would be split in half, with one half staying and the other half going on to form the new Battalion.
When the 11th battalion was split in half, George was in the half that went on to form the 51st Battalion. He officially joined the 51st Battalion on the 29th February 1916.
The next few months were spent in the Egyptian desert training. On the 5th June 1916 the 51st Battalion departed for France, reaching Marseilles on the 12th June 1916. They were then sent north to the Armentieres region where they would have their first experience of the Western Front.
It appears that during much of George's time in France he was acting as batman (officers servant) to Lieutenant Morrell.
On the 10th July 1916 George was evacuated to hospital with bronchitis, only rejoining his unit on the 25th August 1916. George had missed his units first action at Mouquet Farm on the Somme but returned in time to take part on the 3rd September 1916.
Unfortunately this attack was not a success, though George survived without being wounded.
On the 13th February 1917 George was evacuated to hospital with mumps, rejoining his unit on the 7th March 1917.
George served at Noreuil and Bullecourt in April 1917 and came through both actions unhurt.
George served at Messines from June to August 1917 and at the Third Battle of Ypres in September and October 1917, seeing action at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke and Broodseinde Ridge.
In January 1918 he was granted a two week furlough to the UK but then returned to his unit.
George saw action at Dernancourt in March/April 1918 and also fought at the successful recapture of Villers-Bretonneux on April 25th 1918.
George served with the 51st Battalion until the 30th August 1918 when he was detached for duty for a month to the 4th Army School. After his return to the Battalion, they were on a rest period out of the line. In October 1918 George was granted a period of leave to England. While on leave to the UK he reported ill on the 30th October 1918.
George was diagnosed with venereal disease and was sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital. Thus he was in hospital when the Armistice was announced.
George wasn't released from hospital till the 7th March 1919. He was then allotted a berth on a ship home.
On the 31st March 1919 George boarded the transport ship Khyber in Liverpool and set sail for home, Disembarking in Fremantle on the 23rd May 1919.
George was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd July 1919.
After being discharged from the AIF it appears that George left Fremantle with his Aunt Florence for the eastern states, settling in Kerang Victoria.
He got married in Victoria and was working as a Storeman. The family was living in Kerang.
On the 25th October 1939 George enlisted into the Australian Army (V81917). He would serve in the 3rd Military District (Victoria) from 1937 to 1949 when he was discharged.
On the 30th April 1967 George applied for his Anzac Medallion from his home in Kerang Victoria
George Sidney Cook died in Ballarat Victoria in 1970