Memorial: M3947

Memorial at St Nicholas’ Church, Blakeney, Norfolk commemorating Christopher Cooke, RN, d. 1917

Location

St Nicholas' Church, Blakeney, Norfolk

Transcript

'Giving thanks to God / for the Beloved Memory / of / Christopher Arthur / Gresham Cooke, / Midshipman, R. N. / Aged 18. / HMS Aboukir; torpedoed / 22nd September 1914. / Battle of Jutland, 31st May 1916. / Killed by explosion in HMS Vanguard 9th July 1917. / He lived happily / and died bravely.'

Details

Vessel: HMS Aboukir; HMS Vanguard

Event

World War I, Battle of Jutland

Event Date

1914 - 1918

People

Cooke, Christopher Arthur Gresham
Age: 18
Date of Death: 9/7/1917
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Midshipman
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Christopher Cooke was abroad the HMS Vanguard in Scapa Flow. There was an explosion at 11.20 pm on the evening of 9th July 1917, which killed all but two of the 845 crew. The Vanguard sank within two minutes. There are memorials to the missing officers and crew of HMS Vanguard at Chatham and Cambridge, as well as on a war memorial at St Margaret's Church, Ilkley.

Christopher Cooke was the son of Arthur Cooke, a surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. He joined the Royal Navy, as a cadet at the age of 13 in 1912. He survived the sinking of HMS Aboukir, which with HMS Cressy and HMS Hogue, was sunk on 22nd September 1914, with the total loss of 1,400 men. He saw action in the Battle of Jutland 31st May 1916.


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