Pte Richard Cook was born in Bermondsey at 90 East Lanes on 20th August 1897, the 3rd son of Henry & Elizabeth Cook.  The family moved several times, first within Bermondsey then to Beddington Corner, Croyden and finally to Chertsey, Surrey before World War 1.

His military service commenced on 12th March 1915 when he enlisted at Kingston-upon-Thames into the East Surrey Regt and was given regimental number 11173.  His physique and other details were recorded as: Height 5ft 6", Weight 137lbs, Chest 37" expanded, Eyes Blue, Complexion Fresh, Occupation Labourer, Religion C of E, Scald scar on right elbow. Still 17 when he enlisted though old enough to join he was not old enough for overseas service which was 19 at that time. By 14th March Richard has been transferred to the Border Regiments 3rd (Depot) Battalion, and given a new service number 23051.  Around that time the 3rd Battalion moved from Shoeberryness to Conwy in North Wales but at which location Richard joined them is unknown.

Richard was posted to the 1st Battalion on 9th November and embarked at Devonport on 24th bound for Gallipoli where the 1st was fighting against the Turks. The failed Gallipoli campaign was drawing to a conclusion when Richard arrived having travelled via Alexandria in Egypt and the islands of Lemnos or Mudros just off the Turkish coast. Richard would have seen some action before the massive withdrawal started as the thousands of troops on Gallipoli were evacuated to Egypt. On 11th March 1916 the 1st Battalion with Richard amongst it numbers was somewhere in France.

Richard's service record exists though burnt and water damaged sometimes with gaps that have to be filled from other sources. One such is the 7 days punishment awarded on 15th April 1916 for being asleep when he should have stayed awake. 7 days Field Punishment involved being tied to an object, usually a wagon wheel, for certain periods every day. In between these the prisoner would do any dirty or hard job that could be found. It is probable that Richard was on an exercise or in a back area at this time as in a front line situation the penalty for falling asleep was death by shooting.

The 1st Battalion Border Regiment was part of the 29th Division (The Incomparable a name they gave themselves in Gallipoli) tasked with attacking the German lines north of the River Ancre on the first day of the forthcoming battle. Training areas had been selected in the rear and Leovencourt was used to simulate Beaumont Hamel where they would attack.

Postponed from 29th June to 1st July the infantry advance would start at 7.30am. 2nd Battalion South Wales Borders in front of 1st Border Regiment with the 1st Newfoundland Regiment behind. As each trench system was taken following troops would pass through to the next objective - at least that was the plan. To left and right other regiments, other divisions, the attack being some 15 miles long.

On 25th June the bombardment started with the object of cutting the German barbed wire, neutralising their artillery and smashing their front and rear trench system, it failed to do so.  Then finally on 1st July 1916  the attack began.  At 7.20am a hugh mine (Hawthorn Ridge) with 40,000 lbs of explosive, was fired, effectively warning the Germans of the impending attack, and at 7.30am the artillery targeted areas behind the German front line leaving their troops free to man the front line trenches.

2nd South Wales Borders climbed from their trenches to pass through the gaps cut in the barbed wire before fanning out into line abreast but their attack collapsed as they were easily picked off by the German machine gun fire from 'Y' Ravine. With the German artillery now shelling the British frontline and communication trenches and German machine guns dominating the gaps in the wire the situation was hopeless, but still at 8.05am the 1st Border Regiment advanced adding to the dead and wounded, the Newfoundland Regiment faired even worse, and today this area of the battlefield is a memorial park bearing their name.

As Richard's first place of burial was 'Y' Ravine Cemetery 2 a battlefield cemetery located in what was no mans land at the time of the battle and yet closest to the German frontline, it is possible that Richard got through the wire and close to the german trenches at the time he was shot down.  We cannot know for sure.

Richard's records only state "Missing 1-7-16" followed by "Died on or since 1-7-16".

In October 1919 all the graves in 'Y' Ravine Cemetery 2 were concentrated into Ancre British Cemetery.  Richard lies in plot 1 row C grave 14.

Together with Richard's damaged service record is a letter sent by his father, as next of kin, pieced together it reads:

25, Mead Lane, Chertsey, Surrey    10/1/20

Dear Capt Wenham,

Your form concerning the removal of my dear son's remains received with thanks. I hope some day for his Mother and myself might visit his grave.

I am, Yours truly, H. Cook

Sadly they never did.  1993 was the first known visit to Ancre Cemetery by a family member, Richard's Niece Ivy and her husband Paul and again in 2006 both on 1st July. A further visit was made in May 2015 by his Great Niece Sarah.

Sarah says of her visit, "..it was deeply deeply moving.  With thanks to a friend who is highly knowledgeable on the Battle of the Somme and that area in particular, I was able to walk where Great Uncle Richard would have walked, through AuchonVillers, understanding the training he would have gone through, the comraderie he would have experienced especially as an 18 year old, along trenches he would have been along and around the site of Hawthorn Ridge, the mine he would surely have heard exploded.  I walked around the battlefield preserved in the Newfoundland Park Memorial and saw the area where he would most likely have fallen.  With this understanding of his last few days and hours experiences I finally walked into Ancre British Cemetery and without being told my eyes were drawn to my uncle's grave and I rushed over and collapsed to my knees sobbing.  I felt I was weeping the tears of generations, his mother's, his father's his brothers.  My grief came from so deep within.  As I sat alone kneeling, facing the grave I heard a voice in my head, '..I did not suffer..'  For the rest of the time I was there I went to the grave morning and night and found such peace and comfort in the cemetery, beautifully kept and surrounded by wildlife.  Peace, peace and contentment.  It is an image and memory I return to often for comfort.."

Richard's medal entitlement is:

1914-1915 Star      British War Medal     Victory Medal.

Sarah Povey