Thomas Cooke VC (5 July 1881 – 25 July 1916)
Cooke was born in Kaikoura, NZ, on 5 July 1881, to an Englishman and his wife. The family later moved to Wellington and after completing his schooling, Cooke became a carpenter like his father. In 1902, he married Maud Elizabeth Elliott and the couple had three children. In 1912, he moved his young family to Australia and settled in Melbourne where he worked as a builder.
In February 1915, Cooke enlisted in the AIF for service abroad in the First World War. He was posted to 24th Battalion upon completion of his training. His posting proved relatively short-lived for after he arrived in the Middle East, he was transferred to 8th Battalion. His battalion arrived on the Western Front in April 1916.
Two months later, the battalion, as part of the 1st Division fought in the Battle of Pozieres on 24 to 25 July 1916. Seeking to consolidate the Australian positions around Pozières, Cooke, operating a Lewis gun, was sent forward with his assistants to secure an unsafe section of the line. He and his companions secured the area but was exposed to long range machinegun fire which soon accounted for all but Cooke. Even after running out of ammunition, he continued to man his post in the face of a German counterattack during which he was killed. He was recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions. The award of the VC to Cooke was gazetted on 9 September 1916. The citation for his VC read as follows:
For most conspicuous bravery. After a Lewis gun had been disabled, he was ordered to take his gun and gun-team to a dangerous part of the line. Here he did fine work, but came under very heavy fire, with the result that finally he was the only man left. He still stuck to his post, and continued to fire his gun. When assistance was sent he was found dead beside his gun. He set a splendid example of determination and devotion to duty.
Cooke's VC was presented to his wife by the Governor-General in 1917. His wife later remarried. Cooke has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru, New Zealand.