COOK, Hubert W

Hubert Cook was born and living in Moor Street before 1914 and was a member of the Brierley Hill Fire Brigade and the St. Michael’s Band of Bell Ringers. He served in one of the Territorial Battalions of the South Staffordshire Regiment and his proficiency in arms could have been responsible for his transfer to the Machine Gun Corps some time about 1916. He fought in the 46th Battalion which worked within the 46th Division which included the Staffordshire Brigade. Early in 1918 the Brigade was in Bethune and faced the great German offensives of 1918. Despite serious losses the defence was eventually successful and paved the way for the Advance to Victory. In July the Staffords were again near Bethune where both patrols and shelling cost lives. Private Hubert Cook was killed during enemy shelling on the 19th July when he was taking rations to members of his Company. He was 23 years of age and is buried in Fouquières Cemetery (III H 11) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.