Albert Edward Cooke
Born 6th September 1889, Bareilly, India
Son of Alfred E and Elizabeth Cooke nee Davis, 8 Whitfield Street, Gloucester
Joined the City of London Police 24th July 1913
Brown eyes, dark brown hair, dark completion, just over 6 ft in height
Warrant Number 7872
Collar Number D88
Served at Cloak Lane Police Station
Company Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
Service Number 8455
Killed in action 4th June 1915 aged 24 years
Buried First DCLI Cemetery, The Bluff, Belgium
From the Police Review: “PC Albert Edward Cooke of the London City Police was killed in action on June 4th last. He was born at Bareilly, India, and joined the 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in 1906. He was transferred to the Army Reserve with the rank of Lance-Sergeant in 1913, joining the City of London Police the same year, and was called up on the Army Reserve on August 4th, 1914. He was killed in action whilst serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France on June 4th last when he held the rank of Company Sergeant Major. At the time of his death he was nearly 25 years of age and unmarried. He was attached to Cloak Lane Division”.
Extracts from reference provided for Albert Cooke upon his application to join the City of London Police (Source: City of London Police Personal file, held at the London Metropolitan Archives):
“I have known Lance Sergeant A E Cooke during the time I served at The Depot, Bodmin, a period of about 3 years. I formed a very high opinion of the character and qualities of this non-commissioned officer. His duties at that time were those of School Master (Army). The manner in which those duties were performed particularly came under my notice. Lance Sergeant Cooke threw himself into his work and with a combination of zeal and a good knowledge of his subjects the best results were obtained. Lance Sergeant Cooke was also in my company and I have great pleasure in recommending him as a thoroughly reliable man in every way”.
F H Shendall, Capt, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 15th April 1913
“This is to certify that my son, Albert Edward Cooke was employed in the National Telephone Company, Gloucester. But on passing an examination for employment as a clerk with the Great Western Railway Company which offered possibilities of early employment he left the services of the telephone company in order to be ready when called upon – but after waiting some time he enlisted on the 20th August 1906. Shortly afterwards the offer of a post came to which I replied explaining why he could not avail himself of the offer.
Up to the date of his enlistment he lived at home with me and I am glad to testify of his general good conduct and character at home. I as a Army Warrant Officer am also proud and thankful to see his success in His Majesty’s Services up to the present”.
A E Cooke, Monmouth, 16th May 1913
“I have great pleasure in bearing testimony in favour of Sergeant Albert Edward Cooke. He was a pupil in Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Gloucester during my headship. This is a secondary school and had nearly 300 boys. Cooke was exemplary in his conduct, manly and straightforward, and made very satisfactory progress in his school studies. He displayed more than average intelligence and proved himself well informed in subjects outside the school curriculum. He has had the advantage of good parental training and I always found him honest and trustworthy”.
Councillor James Crofts, 4 Brunswick Square, Gloucester, April 19th 1913
The above photograph of Albert Cooke appeared in the “Police Review”, 27th August 1915