Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension. Near Albert, Somme. [Shown by kind permission of ww1cemeteries.com].

Herbert Cook MM.

The Military Medal. Inscribed around the edge with the holder's name. War Office record of issue of 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

The 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment were formed in August 1914 in Northallerton.
They became part of the 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
After landing at Boulogne on the 14th May 1915, the Division took part in most of the actions on the Western Front
The Battle of the Somme lasted from July 1916 into the start of 1917.
Corporal Herbert Cook died of wounds.
He was a stretcher bearer and was awarded the Military Medal for some unknown deed when he was a Private.

On 14th August 1907, at Skelton Parish Church, he married Elizabeth Watson, the daughter of George Watson (under manager Park Pit) and Elizabeth Watson of 38 Back Lane, Skelton.
They had a boy, Bertie, who died in infancy of meningitis and a daughter, Ethel, who was only 8 at the time of her father's death.
22 years later, Ethel, was also to lose her husband, Sergeant William C Danby, Green Howards, in the Second World War.

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Dernancourt Communal Cemetery.

Director of War Graves Notification.

Those bodies that could be recovered were buried quickly and marked by wooden crosses.
The family could request details and Herbert Cook's widow received the above notification.
It was obviously only after the war that the memorials and well kept Commonwealth War cemeteries could be created.

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