Regimental number: 6301 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1959 – 19, Item: 11478, PDF: B1959-SO19.  Born in 1886 at Lancashire with his widowed mother and his brother living in Chatham, ON. The son of John Holland Cookson and Mrs. Frances Cookson of 14 Hillard St., Chatham a widow. She would later live at 197 Thomas St., Chatham, also lived at 75 Grand Ave. East, Chatham.  Prior to his enlistment Bertram worked as a clerk.

Attestation: 22/09/1914 at Valcartier, PQ. at 27 years old, 5’ 9”, Girth: 38”, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Brown, Hair: Light. Medical done at Valcartier, PQ.  His unit said for England 3/10/1914.

His unit sailed 3/10/14 for England.

 

COOKSON, BERTRAM CLARE Initials: B C Nationality: Canadian Rank: Private Regiment: Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) Unit Text: 1st Bn. Age: 31 KIA; Date of Death: 30/04/1915 Service No: 6301 Additional information: Son of John Holland Cookson and Frances Cookson, of 197, Thames St., Chatham, Ontario. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 10 – 26 – 28. Cemetery: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

According to his military record it is believed killed between 22/04 and 30/04/1915. A note in his record concerning his place of burial is as follows:

2/06/15, Buried eastside of Ypres to Pilkem road near shrine about 400 yards from where Pontoon Bridge comes over road. Shares grave with 16 others who fell in service at the same time frame. Reported by burial between 23 & 27/04/15 Major Beattie 

Curators Note: The note above did not secure finding the bodies of Bertram Cookson nor the other 16 since his name is in the Ypres Memorial he has no known grave. The battles around Ypres swallowed many men for much of the war. JRH

The assigned pay to his mother then living at 75 Grand Ave. East, Chatham was for the sum of $180.00 as a War Gratuity, she was also eligible for the 1914-15 Star and VM / BWN.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Chatham Daily Planet (30-06-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (02-07-1915), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1959 - 19, CVWM, LAC
Supplemental Information	Age: 31 KIA; Date of Death: 30/04/1915 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 10 - 26 - 28. Cemetery: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Weight	5' 9" lbs
Age	27 yrs

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