William was born on the Isle of Wight, England, in 1882 to William Samuel Cook and Sarah Ann Carr. William married Emma Heath in Fulham, England, in 1916 - she later came to Australia and died in Ormond, VIC in 1955, aged 75.
William was a carpenter at the Darley Brick Co.(4), living in Melbourne when he enlisted in the AIF, 9th Reinforcements, 22nd Battalion, on the 3rd of July 1915, aged 33. William was appointed an acting Lance Corporal before he embarked aboard the HMAT A69 Warilda in February 1916, disembarking in England some time in March.
He arrived in France in June 1916, reverting to a Private in July when he joined his unit in the field. On the 5th of August, during the Battle of Pozieres he received bullet and shell wounds to both arms and was admitted to hospital in England - condition severe.
In October William was granted two weeks leave during which time he married Emma Heath. In December he was AWOL for almost two weeks and awarded 13 days detention and forfeited 27 days pay. He transferred to the 68th Battalion in March 1917 then back to the 22nd Battalion in August and rejoined his unit in France in January 1918. In April he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
William transferred to the AIF Headquarters, France, in December and was in England in January 1919. In October he was promoted to Extra Regimental Sergeant before embarking for Australia aboard the Wahehe in March 1920, arriving back in Australia in May. He was discharged from the AIF in September 1920.
William died in Bacchus Marsh, VIC, in 1949, aged 67.
He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour, the Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour and possibly the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.
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Last updated by lee, Sat, 28 Aug 2021 11:26:57