Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William John Marcus Cookson was born on the 1st of January 1899 to Bertha Marion Connelly in Temora(1), and spent the majority of his childhood at his family’s home in Balmain, Sydney. His father, Reginald George Cookson, was born in British India and worked as a doctor in rural Queensland. His family were Protestant, adherents to the Church of England.(2) William had an older brother, Henry, and an older sister, Marion.  William was a bright student, securing enrolment at Technical High School, where he studied from 1912 to 1914. He achieved satisfactory results, placing 18th out of 31 students in 1912 and 11th out of 31 in 1914 while notably excelling in mathematics.(3) After graduating from school, Cookson worked as a Cable Operator for 3 years. (4) He enlisted for the War on the 9th of February 1917 at Victoria Barracks, Paddington, with the written consent of his parents. (5)

Cookson departed Australia on the 2nd of August, 1917, on the HMAT A28 Miltiades. (6) He disembarked on 02/10/1917 in Glasgow, Scotland, after which he marched in to the RBAA (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) at Lark Hill Camp, where he received training as an artillery Gunner. (7) At the RBAA, Cookson underwent a 6 week training regimen consisting of 6 daily lessons lasting 1-2 hours each. These covered a wide range of skills and information that would be essential to his performance in the field, from aeroplane photo interpretation to Reconnaissance and Atmospheric corrections.(8) Cookson was transferred to the Heytesbury Camp of the RBAA, where he contracted mumps and consequently was hospitalised at Sutton Veny Military Hospital on 02/12/1917. He was reinstated 3 weeks later and completed his training at RBAA. (9) Immediately afterwards he proceeded overseas to France. Cookson marched into the AGBD (Australian General Base Depot) in Lazerde Valley, Rouelles, France on 17/01/1918. He was then taken on strength to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade May Reinforcements 5 days later, and was admitted into its 47th Battery as a Gunner. (10)

Cookson marched with the 12th Field Artillery Brigade as it slowly advanced through France alongside the infantry. It played a major role in the Battle of the Somme of 1918 providing cover fire and offensive barrages to facilitate the capture of new ground. (11) However, the Brigade was frequently targeted by enemy German artillery, and was occasionally struck by German bomber planes. In September 1918 the 47th Battery was targeted by continuous machine gun fire and shelling near the French town of Bullecourt as it approached the Hindenburg Line. On the 29th of September Cookson was admitted to the 132nd Field Ambulance with gunshot wounds on his right forearm and thumb, and was discharged to the Casualty Clearing Station (CCS). (12) From there he was transferred to the War Hospital in Exeter, England and was hospitalised for 2 weeks. Cookson was discharged from hospital and continued to serve in the 47th Battery until the Armistice, on the 11th of November 1918. He boarded the HMAT Demosthenes to return to Australia on 16/01/1919 (13). Cookson contracted Influenza at sea on 20/01/1919, and was hospitalised in the ship’s infirmary for 3 days.  William disembarked at Melbourne on 02/03/1919, and then returned to Sydney by boat. (14)

William John Marcus Cookson’s appointment was terminated and he was officially discharged from service on 18th April, 1919 (15).

After his return from the war, William John Marcus Cookson married Edna Blanche Smith on 21/10/1924. (16) His only daughter, Edna Valry Cookson was born soon after, on 30/03/1927. (17) The family relocated to Coonamble, a rural town 500 km west of Sydney, where they would reside permanently. William invested in local businesses, becoming a shareholder in the joint-stock agricultural company Dalgety & Co Ltd. from 1927. (18) He also became a Freemason, finding a passion in community service. (19) The Mungrabambone local bore water trust elected William as a trustee for 6 consecutive years starting in 1930, (20)and he also served as a Member for the Land Board of Coonamble until he retired on 15/01/1969. (21) Cookson was also heavily involved with the Coonamble Shire Council, assisting with the district’s centenary celebrations in 1955. (22)

William John Marcus Cookson passed away of old age on 26/05/1978 aged 79 years old, and was buried at Coonamble cemetery. (23)  His wife passed away on 06/04/1989, and the pair are buried next to each other. His daughter Valry Edna Cookson, who married Roy Kuhner and had 4 children succeeded Cookson, all raised in Coonamble. (24) His obituary was published in the Daily Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald newspapers. (25) His name is commemorated on the Sydney Technical High School World War 1 Honour Roll, and Temora War Memorial. (26) Lest we forget. 

Endnotes

1. Familysearch.org. (2015). FamilySearch.org. [online] Available at: https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L717-5DX/william-john-marcus-mark-cookson-1899-1978 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
2. Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3403413 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
3. Sydney Technical High School WW1 Information, collated by Ken Stevenson. Accessible to students through Google Drive.
4. Ibid
5. Ibid
6. Ibid
7. 1915 Coo-ee March. (2017). HMAT A28 Miltiades – 1915 Coo-ee March. [online] Available at: https://cooeemarch1915.com/tag/hmat-a28-miltiades/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
8. Awm.gov.au. (2024b). AWM4 13/48/2 - October 1917. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1357410 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
9. Ibid
10. Ibid
11. Awm.gov.au. (2024a). AWM4 13/39/22 - February 1918. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1356396 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
12. Ibid
13. Ibid
14. Ibid
15. Ibid
16. Ibid
17. Ibid
18. Ibid
19. Austcemindex.com. (2024). Australian Cemeteries Index - Inscription 9756383 - William John Marcus (Mark) Cookson. [online] Available at: https://austcemindex.com/inscription?id=9756383 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
20. Trove. (2014d). Vol. 39 No. 15 (April 16, 1928). [online] Available at: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-838828100/view?sectionId=nla.obj-839429249&searchTerm=John+William+Marcus+Cookson+Gazette&partId=nla.obj-838853189 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
21. Freemason insignia is on his graveyard, a picture of which is found in the Aust. Cemetaries index.
Austcemindex.com. (2024). Australian Cemeteries Index - Inscription 9756383 - William John Marcus (Mark) Cookson. [online] Available at: https://austcemindex.com/inscription?id=9756383 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
22. Trove. (2014e). WATER ACT, 1912. - ELECTION OF TRUSTEES. - Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001) - 21 Feb 1930. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223074535?searchTerm=william%20john%20marcus%20cookson [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
23. Trove. (2014c). RETIREMENTS - Department of Lands - Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001) - 10 Jan 1969. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220063261?searchTerm=william%20john%20marcus%20cookson [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
24. Trove. (2014a). COONAMBLE’S CENTENARY - The Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955) - 23 Sep 1955. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/123142687?searchTerm=cookson%20coonamble [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
25. Ryerson, J. (2024). Search for Notices. [online] Ryersonindex.net. Available at: https://ryersonindex.net/search.php [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
26. Vwma.org.au. (2024). William John Marcus COOKSON. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/87040 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].