Thomas's Story.
Thomas Cooke was killed in action on 7th October 1915, at the Battle of Loos in France. He was twenty years old.
Thomas Cooke was born on 28th October 1894, in Warrington Road, Witton, in the registration district of Northwich, and baptised on 22nd November 1894 at Witton-cum-Twambrooks, Great Budworth. He was the third child of Samuel Cooke (1864 - 1936) and Margaret nee Hankey (1870 - 1929), and brother to Florence 1889–1964, Jessie 1892–1926, Alice Christina 1897–1975, Susan 1899–1901, Elsie 1900–, Maggie 1903–1989, Fred 1906–, Mabel 1909–and Arthur 1912–. His father worked as an alkali labourer.
In March 1901, when Thomas was six years old, the family was living at 86 Warrington Road, Great Budworth. By April 1911, they had moved to 9 Forge Lane, Marston, Northwich. Thomas, 16, had left home and was working as a milk boy on Mr Clark's farm, Brook House, Cogshall, to the north of Northwich.
Later that year, in August 1911, his elder sister Jessie (20) married Sydney Scott Ashworth. They went on to have three children before her death in 1926. Pictured below are Sydney, sons William and Cyril, and Jessie. They had a daughter named Jessie. After his first wife's death, Sydney married his sister-in-law and Thomas's sister Maggie Cooke in 1928.
c. 1918 Sydney Scott Ashworth, sons William and Cyril, and Jessie nee Cooke.
In the summer of 1915, Thomas (20) volunteered for service with the Cheshire Regiment, arriving in France on 1st July 1915. He was killed in action on 7th October, just three weeks before his 21st birthday.
He is buried at Suzanne Communal Cemetery Extension, France. As he was unmarried, his mother Margaret was named as his next of kin in the Soldier's Effects record.
Thomas was awarded the Victory and Star medals.
Researched by Shena Lewington (September 2026)
Thomas Cooke was born on 28th October 1894, in Warrington Road, Witton, in the registration district of Northwich, and baptised on 22nd November 1894 at Witton-cum-Twambrooks, Great Budworth. He was the third child of Samuel Cooke (1864 - 1936) and Margaret nee Hankey (1870 - 1929), and brother to Florence 1889–1964, Jessie 1892–1926, Alice Christina 1897–1975, Susan 1899–1901, Elsie 1900–, Maggie 1903–1989, Fred 1906–, Mabel 1909–and Arthur 1912–. His father worked as an alkali labourer.
In March 1901, when Thomas was six years old, the family was living at 86 Warrington Road, Great Budworth. By April 1911, they had moved to 9 Forge Lane, Marston, Northwich. Thomas, 16, had left home and was working as a milk boy on Mr Clark's farm, Brook House, Cogshall, to the north of Northwich.
Later that year, in August 1911, his elder sister Jessie (20) married Sydney Scott Ashworth. They went on to have three children before her death in 1926. Pictured below are Sydney, sons William and Cyril, and Jessie. They had a daughter named Jessie. After his first wife's death, Sydney married his sister-in-law and Thomas's sister Maggie Cooke in 1928.
c. 1918 Sydney Scott Ashworth, sons William and Cyril, and Jessie nee Cooke.
In the summer of 1915, Thomas (20) volunteered for service with the Cheshire Regiment, arriving in France on 1st July 1915. He was killed in action on 7th October, just three weeks before his 21st birthday.
He is buried at Suzanne Communal Cemetery Extension, France. As he was unmarried, his mother Margaret was named as his next of kin in the Soldier's Effects record.
Thomas was awarded the Victory and Star medals.
Researched by Shena Lewington (September 2026)