Captain Edwin COOK — 11th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born at Tooting, London, on the 27th of August 1827, the third son of William Cook, Esq., J.P. High Sheriff of Kent, of Roydon Hall, Kent, and Barkham, Hertfordshire, and his wife, Mary Anne, nee Lainson.

His father was originally from Wymondham in Norfolk and had acquired Roydon Hall on the 13th of November 1827. He was also at one time a Major in the Kent Militia.

1841 Census

Clapham Rise, St Mary's, Lambeth, Surrey [Kennington].

William Cook, 57, Merchant, not born same county.

Mary Ann Cook, 50, not born same county.

Caroline Cook, 16, born Surrey.

Augusta Cook, 15, born Surrey.

Edwin Cook, [age?], born Surrey.

Five Servants are also shown.

[PB]

Service

Cornet in the 11th Hussars: 30th of March 1847.

Lieutenant, 11th Hussars:. 31st of January 1848.

1851 Census

Cavalry Barracks, Pockthorpe, Norwich.

Edwin A. Cook, Lieutenant, unmarried.

Captain, 11th Hussars: 31st of December 1853.

Captain Edwin Adolphus Cook, in Hart's New Army List, 1854.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Brevet-Major, 11th Hussars: 12th of December 1854.

Retired, by the sale of his commission, on the 24th of February 1857.

Held a commission in the West Kent Yeomanry as a Lieutenant from the 22nd of January 1858.

Captain: 10th of October 1865.

Resigned his commission on the 7th of March 1867.

Campaign service

Major Cook served the Eastern campaign of 1854 and up to the 20th of August 1855, including the affair of the Bulganak, battles of the Alma, Balaclava (wounded and horse shot) and the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and three clasps and the Brevet of Major.)

No details appear to exist, but he is shown in the official "Casualty lists" as being "slightly wounded," but in the musters as "Wounded", on board ship from the 27th of October — 17th of November 1854."

He is shown in Hart's "Army Lists" as having the clasp for Inkerman, and this error is repeated by Lummis and Wynn, but in a letter home written to his father from the Heights of Sebastopol and dated the 1st of December 1854 he mentions that:

"My last letter will prove from its date that I was not present at the last engagement on the Inkerman Heights — the only engagement that I have not had a share in."

Copy of a letter (said to have been sold with his medals at auction in 1980 but not mentioned at the time) written by Major Cook to his father in England, while he was serving at the siege of Sebastopol. The letter has been slightly edited, principally its punctuation, in the interests of readability:

"Heights of Sebastopol,

December 1st 1854.

My dear Father,

Since I last wrote nothing decisive has been done about finishing our now truly wretched campaign. My last letter will prove from its date that I was not present at the last engagement on the Inkerman Heights — the only engagement that I have not had a share in. [This last proves his non-entitlement to the Inkerman clasp, as claimed by Hart's and Lummis and Wynn.]

I was in the Black Sea on board of a ship at the time, lying outside the Bay of Varna.

The account of the battle, which will reach you before this, you may fully believe. I don't think the papers will exaggerate, as it was without exception the most sanguinary on record for the numbers engaged.

I have, of course, heard all the accounts about it and have been over the ground, where there still remains ample proofs of a dreadful slaughter.

It is well known here that the Russians confess to 20,000 men hors de combat — they attacking us over 40,000 strong, led by two Grand Dukes, at daybreak, having been allowed to bring up a great number of heavy guns during the night.

A fool of an Ensign, hearing them all the time, never reported it.

They opened up at a far longer range than any of our English guns could carry, before we knew. and taking us by surprise. On our side, we turned out as we were, in our greatcoats.

The Russians came on most furiously, no doubt mistaking us in our greatcoats for the Turks.

Our Guards and four other regiments were the only troops on hand. They held their ground bravely as long as they could, but of course were obliged to fall back on the next support. The French came up about this time and enabled us to attack the serfs, on which they turned in every direction and then commenced the most horrific slaughter.

Our fellows charged them with bayonets right down to the bottom of the heights. The deserters say that they got such a lesson that they have tried several times to get them on again, but without success; and I really think there is no chance of their attacking again.

Now for the other massacre, as it is most appropriately called, of the 25th October. I have abstained from making a report about this affair, except that I had a most wonderful escape and got only slightly wounded with a spent shot, and that I would have unnecessarily alarmed you, because it is impossible to describe otherwise than the most downright useless, ridiculous sacrifice of the whole of the Light Cavalry.

Seeing now by "The Times" of the 13th that they have described the thing truly, so I may as well confirm it. "The Times," account is so good that I shall only say what happened to myself.

Our order to charge was brought by a half-madman, Captain Nolan. The order was very difficult to understand rightly. On Lord Lucan asking what he was to charge, the only information was, "There is the enemy and there are your orders."

The enemy consisted of 15,000 infantry — 4,000 cavalry, all protected by ten guns. To reach them we had to go down a ravine between two hills with ten guns on each, besides a host of riflemen. Down we went, very steadily, the fire was terrific. It seemed impossible to escape.

We were well within grape-shot on either side, besides the barkers in front. I got through safe up to the guns, cut down all that were within reach and then at the cavalry behind, but to our horror the Heavy Brigade had not followed in support and there was an alarm that we were cut off in the rear, which was true.

There was nothing left for it but to cut our way back the same way as we came. The Lancers who cut us off made a very mild resistance, they seemed to be astonished at our audacity in charging them in the wretched confusion we were in. We got through them with very little loss.

Just after getting through these beggars, I thought I heard a rattle behind me and, by Jove, I was only just in time, a Muscovian had his sword up just in my range and in the act of cutting me down. I showed him the point of my sword instantly, close to his throat, he pulled his horse almost backwards and gave me the opportunity of getting more forward.

I now had nothing to fear, being on a good horse, except going through those infernal guns again.

About a quarter of a mile from the batteries I felt a tremendous blow on the side of my leg, and instantly my poor old horse was hit on the offside and was going to fall. I jumped off in a second with a pistol in one hand and sword in the other, and had the satisfaction of seeing my old friends some ten yards behind in full pursuit.

Things looked very bad indeed, but in spite of my game leg, I ran faster than I ever did before in my life and kept pace with my friends behind, till their own fire got so thick that they thought fit to drop it. I was now between the two batteries and could only raise a walk.

I must have been a quarter-of-an-hour under fire on foot, and much to the astonishment of my real friends — the few who escaped — turned up about half-an-hour after the rest of the stragglers. I have finished my romance, for really my escape was almost romantic, but don't on that account put it in print as some of my brave companions like to do.

Enough of war. In spite of living in a tent at this time of the year with three inches of mud inside and twelve inches out, I am not down in the mouth.

My fortnight at sea put my leg to rights, and those two fools who command us, Lucan and C., have been kind enough to place us such a distance from our supplies, the road back being very deep, that they can't feed even this little wreck of a brigade. The consequence is that they are dying, 8 and 10 a day. Now it requires no mathematician to see that it cannot last, besides the horses being so weak that I don't think one of them could trot more than a mile. They can't bring us into action again for a long time.

Tomorrow they move us down to Balaclava so as to be nearer to our supplies and if we have any luck, get some sort of roof for man and beast. The Russians are worse off than ourselves, if that is possible. They are being starved of supplies, both inside and outside of Sebastopol; yet they still fire away as briskly as ever, and we cannot assault it without large re-inforcements; for the army outside would immediately attack us.

I fear it will not fall for some time yet and I also have a chance of going home to command the Depot in about two months time. So things are looking up/

The newspapers arrive very irregularly, so please speak to them about it and have Marseilles put upon them. I also want the Illustrated London News.

Don't put any more money into the bank, but on account, and put it into 15 per cents.

With best love,

Your affectionate son,

E.A. Cook"

A copy of another letter written by him also exists:

"Scutari,

Dec. 17th 1855.

Sir, I have the honour to request that you will submit this my application for permission to proceed to England upon urgent family affairs, for the consideration of Lieut. General Yorke Scarlett, K.C,B., commanding the Cavalry Division.

I have the honour, etc. etc.,

E.A. Cook, Major,

11th Hussars.

[To:] The Assistant Adjutant Genl. Cavalry Division.

Written on the reverse is:

"At present this application cannot be entertained nor cannot it be sanctioned till there are a sufficient number of officers sent from the Depot of the 11th Hussars consisting of at least one experienced Captain and two Subalterns.

J. Yorke Scarlett, Lt. General."

Hart's New Army List, 1859.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol and the Turkish Medal, the Legion of Honour (5th Class), and the Order of the Medjidie (5th Class).

Neither "Hart's" or the Regimental History mention the latter decorations.

Further medal information archived.

In 1996 correspondence with a member of his greater family living in the West Country revealed a number of previously unknown aspects of this medal group. Possessed by the family is a portrait of him wearing four medals, the Crimean, Turkish Crimean, Legion of Honour, the Order of the Medjidie and the original letter sent to his father from the Crimea.

They state that the Legion of Honour is dated the 7th of April 1857 [sic], its award being contained in the "London Gazette" of Friday 1st of May 1857, and the award of the Turkish Crimean medal in the "London Gazette" of the 2nd of March 1858. (Both decorations were of the 5th Class.)

Following the sale of Roydon Hall, the family was living in another property, Little Roydon. Just after a family death in October 1972, this was broken into and a great many items stolen, including all the family medals.

Commemorations

Life after service

On the 10th of September 1867, he married Augusta Minnette [?] Palmer, daughter of W.H. Palmer, Esq., of Portland Place, London, at St. George's, Hanover Square, London. Two sons and two daughters are known to have been born of this marriage.

Marriage registered

Edwin Adolphus Cook married Augusta Mehetabel Palmer, September Quarter 1867, St George's Hanover Square.

Births registered

Augusta Blanche Cook [daughter], September Quarter 1868, Marylebone.

Edwin Berkeley Cook [son], June Quarter 1869, St Geo H Sq.

1871 Census

27, Berkeley Square, St George's Hanover Square, Westminster.

Edwin A Cook, 43, Land Owner, born Tooting.

Augusta M. Cook, 27, born London.

Augusta B., 3, Edwin B., 2, Gwendoline B, 1.

Eleven servants are also shown.

Birth registered

Ralph Montague Cook [son], September Quarter 1871, St Geo H Sq.

Death & burial

Died at No. 26 Hyde Park Gardens, Kensington, London, on the 30th of May 1872, and was buried in St. Michael's Churchyard at East Peckham, Kent.

Death registered

Edwin Adolphus Cook, aged 44, June Quarter 1872, Kensington.

The probate of his will, made on the 27th of May 1872 (only three days before his death) showed that his effects were valued as under £40,000 and re-sworn in November of 1875 as being under £80,000.

It was witnessed by his own butler and also by a Mrs Tarlton of No. 26 Hyde Park Gardens — the address where he died. (She is now known to have been one of his sisters.)

His tombstone in East Peckham Churchyard bears the inscriptions:

"Edwin Aldolphus Cook, Esq., of Roydon Hall. Late Major, 11th Hussars. August 30th 1827 [sic] — May 30th 1872. Buried June 5th 1872."

His wife was later buried next to him and her tombstone inscription reads:

"Augusta M. Gordon, wife of the above Major Edwin Aldolphus Cook. 19th July 1842 — September 21st 1913. She had married secondly, Lord George Gordon Lennox."

His grave is situated some five yards from the north gate of the church and is surrounded by iron railings. The church itself, although classed as "Redundant" was still (1986) relatively well-maintained by the special fund set up for the purpose, and is some considerable distance from the village of East Peckham itself. It was apparently erected around the time of the Great Plague in London, when wealthy citizens moved out of the capital to more salubrious surroundings. This is evidenced by the great number of very ornate tombs in the overgrown churchyard.

His father, William Cook, and his mother, Mary Ann, are also buried close by. An abstract of the wording on the wording of a memorial tablet on the south wall of the church reads:

"Edwin Aldolphus Cook, of Roydon Hall in this parish. Late Major, 11th Hussars. August 27th 1827 — 30th March 1872."

Also of "Augusta, his wife, July 19th 1842 — September 21st 1913. She married secondly Lord George Gordon Lennox."

Two other tablets commemorate "Edwin Berkeley Cook, M.V.O. of Roydon Hall. Lieutenant-Colonel 1st Life Guards. Elder son of the late Major E.A. Cook. May 4th 1869 — November 4th 1914. Died of wounds received near Messines in the Great War." and of "Robert Montague Cook, J.P. of Roydon Hall. 24th of July 1871 — 2nd of April 1946. Younger son of the late Major E.A. Cook, and also of "His wife, Milicent Gertrude Ann, 28th of October 1875 — 22nd of August 1946, the younger daughter of Colonel H.W. Roberts, of Holborough Court, Kent."

An Edwin Thomas Cook, Major in the Grenadier Guards, also appears (with the Edwin Berkeley Cook mentioned before) on the memorial tablets positioned on the church lych-gate to the memory of the men who fell in the First and Second World Wars, but it is not known what relationship, if any, existed. (Now known to have been a grandson.)

1996: It is now also known that Edwin Thomas Cook, of the Grenadiers, was the second of the three sons of Robert Montague Cook.

Another son, John Hollingworth, RNVR., was lost in the "Ceramic" in December 1942.

His grandson, Major E.T. Cook, died of the wounds he received in action on the hill of Monte Camino during the Italian campaign on the 8th of December 1943. Four hundred and eighty three Grenadiers had gone up to Camino, but only two hundred and sixty-three returned.

His two sons and other members of the family are buried in a walled-off enclosure in a corner of the churchyard. This plot is still maintained, some of the interments taking place as late as 1970.

The family home, Roydon Hall, remained in the family possession until around this time, but is now (1985) a study retreat for an Indian mystic group.

[RM: There are 7 gravesite photographs, one of Roydon Hall in Officers album (31-38), and a Medal group (16)

Further information

Marriage registered

Augusta Minnie Cook married [2nd] George Charles G. Lennox, September Quarter 1875, St George's Hanover Square.

Death registered

George Charles G. Lennox [2nd husband], aged 47, March Quarter 1877, St George's Hanover Square.

1891 Census

Roydon Hall, East Peckham, Kent.

Augusta G Lennox, 47, widow, Lady Lennox, born London.

E. [Edwin Berkeley] Cook, 24, Lieut 1st Life Guards, Army Officer, born London.

Ralph Cook, 19, Lieut West Kent Army Officer, born London.

Blanche Cook,22,

Gwendoline Cook, 20,

Fifteen Servants are also shown.

Marriage registered

Ralph Montague Cook [son] married Millicent Gertrude A Roberts, September Quarter 1897, St Geo H Sq.

Birth registered

Arthur Ralph Cook [grandson], September Quarter 1898, Malling.

1901 Census

Roydon Hall, East Peckham.

Augusta Gordon Lennox, 57, widow.

A niece and 14 servants are also shown.

__________

Lower House, East Peckham

Ralph Montague Cook [son], 29, born London.

Millicent Gertrude Cook, 25, born Malling.

Arthur Ralph, 2, born Malling.

incl. 6 servants.

[Ralph, in Lower House, was living next door to his mother, Augusta Lady Lennox, in Roydon Hall.]

1911 Census

The Grange, Preparatory School, Beacon Road, Crowborough.

Arthur Ralph Cook [grandson], 12, scholar, schoolboy, born Tonbridge.

__________

Holborough Court, Snodland, Kent.

Ralph Montague Cook, 39, married, Private Means.

Millicent Gertrude Annie Cook, 35.

Also: Millicent Ann, granddaughter, 8, John Hollingworth, grandson, 4, Edwin Thomas, grandson, under 10 months.

Twelve Servants and a visitor are also shown.

[They were living with Millicent's parents.]

Death registered

Augusta M.G. Lennox, 71, September 1913, Chelsea.

His son, Edwin Berkeley Cook, died of injuries received at Messines, Belgium, in the first months of World War One. He was 45.

Death registered

Edwin B Cook, aged 45, December Quarter 1914, Marylebone.

The death of Edwin Berkeley Cook [son], 1914

(Click on image to enlarge)

"LIEUTENANT-COLONEL EDWIN BERKELEY COOK, M.V.O., COMMANDING 1st LIFE GUARDS, who died on the 4th November, 1914, at Sussex House, Regent's Park, from wounds received in action near Messines, Belgium, on the 21st October, 1914, was the elder son of the late Major Edwin Adolphus Cook, 11th Hussars, of Roydon Hall, Tonbridge, Kent, and was born on 4th May, 1869, in London.

Lieutenant-Colonel Cook, who was educated at Eton, was gazetted to the 1st Life Guards from the Militia in 1890, becoming Captain in 1S94, Major in 1903, and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in January, 1909. He served as A.D.C. and Acting Military Secretary to General Sir G. Luck in India from 189S to 1903, and succeeded to the command of his regiment in November, 1910.

Lieutenant-Colonel Cook, who was a member of the Bachelors' and Arthurs' Clubs, was unmarried."

[Source: The Bond of Sacrifice: A Biographical Record of All British Officers Who Fell in the Great War, Vol. 1, Aug-Dec 1914, p.87 http://www.archive.org/stream/bondofsacrificeb01clut/bondofsacrificeb01clut_djvu.txt (accessed 29.1.2013)]

Death registered

Ralph M. Cook [son], aged 74, June Quarter 1946, Maidstone.

References & acknowledgements

Additional Census information for 1851, 1871, 1891, 1901, and a considerable number of registrations of births, deaths and marriages kindly provided by Chris Poole.