Contributed by Ron Inglis, April 2022:
Donald Cooke, a farmer, was ’19 years 6 months’ when he enlisted at Liverpool camp on 2 November 1914. He must have been very close to his 20th birthday when he was killed at the landing on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. His grave could not be found after the war, so Private Cooke’s name was inscribed on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli.
On his enlistment paper, Cooke nominated his mother, Mima, of The Terrace, North Richmond, as his next-of-kin. However, correspondence from his mother to Base Records in Melbourne indicates that Cooke’s parents had moved to Kerrs Road, Lidcombe, by September 1915. However, Cooke’s name is not found on the Lidcombe War Memorial, rather it is found on the Richmond (NSW) War Memorial in Richmond Park.
Donald Cooke is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Richmond War Memorial
- Auburn Boys Public School Great War Photographic Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra