1/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Albert Reginald Cook was the only son of Albert Edward and Emily Cook. Born at Cheltenham in the second quarter of 1894, his parents lived at The Rowans, St Marks, Cheltenham.
He enlisted in the 5th (Territorial) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment on 2 September 1914 and served with them in France from 29 March 1915, before being invalided home due to illness. He was sent to Suffolk Hall VAD Hospital, Cheltenham, where he died of diabetes on 21 March 1916, age 21.
He was buried with full military honours in Cheltenham Borough Cemetery on 25 March 1916. His grave is marked by a private marble headstone on which is also commemorated his cousin, Archibald William Cook, who was killed in action with the 2/5th Glosters on 30 June 1916 and is buried at Laventie Military Cemetery, France.
Albert Cook married Leah May Smith at King’s Norton, Birmingham in the third quarter of 1915 and following his death she returned to live in the Birmingham area, at Moseley.
Researched by Graham Adams 19 February 2012
(Acknowledgement to ‘Leaving all that was dear – Cheltenham in the Great War’ by Graham Sacker and Joe Devereux)