KILLED IN ACTION.
Captain Frederick E. H. Cooke, formerly Officer Commanding the 5th Battery, was killed in action in France on October 14. Ho was the eldest son of Mrs A. M. Cooke, Inverercargill, and was 32 years of age. He was born at Stourport. England, and was educated at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. He enlisted with the Main Body. Prior to enlisting he was manager of the Southland Meat Company. He joined the City Rifles in 1900, and rose to the rank of sergeant. He leaves a widow, two sons, and two daughters, now residing in Main South road, Caversham. Captain Cooke arrived in Invercargill in 1906. Before leaving Dunedin he served in the Dunedin City Rifles, under Captain McAra. He was transferred to the Awarua Rifles, Invercargill, and in 1908 he was appointed lieutenant in that company. He served in that capacity until 1911, when he transferred to the C Battery, N.Z.F.A. He was an ideal officer, always up-to-date in his drill, soldier-like in dress and appearance, with a good word of command. He was liked and respected by those under as well as above him. He always took a keen interest in the welfare of his company, and assisted actively in the social as well as the military affairs of his corps. He was a rifle shot above the average, and did good work for the rifle team on many occasions. When he was transferred to C Battery his special abilities and knowledge of horses made his services specially valuable. He took charge of drivers' and specialists' sub-sections. Several week-end camps were held on his property, and though his business kept him much confined, he attended all the annual camps, and was battery leader at Matarae during the inspection by Sir Ian Hamilton. He also took some part in the public and municipal affairs of Invercargill, and served terms on both the Avenal and Invercargill Borough Councils. He was a prominent officer of Southern Cross Lodge, No. 9, and was also a member of several sports clubs. -Otago Daily Times, 24/3/1917.
Captain Cooke died at the beginning of the New Zealand part of the Battle of the Somme. The New Zealand Field Artillery's Official History does not record the circumstances of his death so either of two causes can be reasonable assumed: either counter-battery fire - German artillery attempting to destroy batteries across the line - or a "short" or "premature" - a shell with a faulty fuse which explodes in a gun or just after firing. At a time of heavy bombardment, both instances were likely to occur.
Frederick Cooke lies in the Dartmoor Cemetery at Becordel-Becourt at the Somme in France.
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