Malvern College First World War Casualty

Lieutenant Colonel George Trevor Roper Cook CMG DSO

Photo of George Trevor Roper Cook
House and time at Malvern: No 5, 1892 - 1895.

Regiment: 20th Hussars.
Died: 26 March 1918 aged 41 in France. Killed in action at Dives.
Battle: German Spring Offensive. Cemetery: Pozieres Memorial P 6

Son of George Ward Cook, of Hoylake; husband of Alice Cook (nee Dorman), of The Dower House, Quatt, Bridgnorth, Salop and Greenham Cottage, Hoylake. b. 1877.
Upper IV — Army Side. School Prefect. House XI Football.
R.M.C. Sandhurst 3rd Dragoon Guards 1897; Major 20th Hussars 1911; South African War 1899—1902, Queen’s Medal with 3 Clasps.
Great War, Lieut.-Colonel Commanding 20th Hussars; C.M.G., D.S.O., Croix de Guerre, Despatches (4).

'His chief love as a boy was for horses, a love which he inherited from his father—who also was a Malvernian—in fact one of the first boys to enter the School, having joined No. 1 (McDowall's) the first term the School opened 1865. As a school boy Trevor was a popular all round boy, and was one of a set in No. 5 whose school friendship were long maintained in after life. In sympathy with his love for horses Trevor Cook made up his mind from the first to get a commission in the Cavalry. He was with the 3rd Dragoons in South Africa. During his service in the present war he was twice mentioned in despatches, and was awarded the D.S.O. in 1915. He was killed in action last March.' (Malvernian, Jun 1918).

In March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive, two mixed cavalry regiments were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Cook, called Cook's Detachment. They acted as a relief force, and were ordered on 26th March 1918 to mount up and ride to Cattigny to help the French who retired. The Germans surrounded the detachment and overwhelmed them. George Cook was killed in the fighting and his body was never identified.
Biography at British Empire site

Unit War Diary 20 Hussars:WO 95/1140/2

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