Private Ralph Thomas Cooke – Part Two
The final resting place of my Great Uncle, Private Ralph Thomas Cooke, who was killed in action during World War One in the fields of Northern France, can now be revealed through the kind assistance of Mr Matt Smith, Archive Director and Project Co-ordinator of the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive (AWGPA), who has kindly forwarded to me the images you see below.
Private Ralph Thomas Cooke's Grave and Headstone - Berks Cemetery Extension - Row B, Grave 6 - Ploegsteert, Belgium.
Matt Smith has come to our rescue, as he and others in this great team work tirelessly on a volunteer basis to digitally photographing every Australian War Grave and Memorial Commemoration of Australia's Armed Forces for families, who like us, are trying to find closure or a link to their past.
The final resting place of Private Ralph Thomas Cooke - Berks Cemetery Extension - Row B, Grave 6 - Ploegsteert, Belgium
On behalf of my entire family and those that cherish Private Ralph Thomas Cooke, I would like to give a big thank you to the members of the (AWGPA) team, especially Mr Matt Smith. We will remain eternally grateful.
If you can assist the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive, whether in the form of:
- Supporter
- War Grave or Memorial Photographer
- Area, Regional or Country Coordinator
- Administrative
- Web-site Design and Database Creation
- Original Photographs and Documents
Please click: How Can You Help
Other related links:
- Please click: Private Ralph Thomas Cooke - to view part one of this series
- Part one correction: Private Ralph Thomas Cooke's war records were incorrectly stated as being held by the Australian War Memorial. In fact they are held by the National Archives of Australia.
- Images courtesy of: Australian War Graves Photographic Archive
To be continued...
16 comments - care to make one?:
Those people do a marvellous job with very little thanks, at times.
Hello Peter,
Mr. Matt Smith and his team do a wonderful job!! We must all congratulate them!
The rest place of your great-uncle is beautiful (last post's image was not as fair as these ones)!
What did you feel when you received these images?
Cheers
Thanks Jayne, they certainly do! Perhaps in the near future, with a little help from others like us in the blogging world, more can be done to highlight their great cause and to give them the thanks they deserve.
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Max! They do a great job for those Australian's lost in wartime. But there not the only ones doing it from what I have discovered. Many other countries have similar dynamic driving forces like theirs, doing their bit for their long lost soldiers as well. How did I feel? Over the moon!
Take Care,
Peter
Very cool Peter, great job by Mr. Matt Smith and his group, what a great thing to do.
Hi Bob! Yes, they are marvellous! Now here's something you might be interested in, seeing it's in your part of the woods - The Maple Leaf Legacy Project - they aim to photograph or obtain a photograph of every Canadian War Grave of the 20th Century.
This is their link:
http://www.mapleleaflegacy.org/Welcome.htm
Take Care,
Peter
Peter, you have completed a most beautiful, poignant posting about your great uncle, Private Ralph Thomas Cooke. How fantastic organizatons are out there and volunteering to connect family members in this way.
Beautiful pics and super posting!!!
Blessings, JJ
Hi Peter,
"But there not the only ones doing it from what I have discovered. Many other countries have similar dynamic driving forces like theirs, doing their bit for their long lost soldiers as well."
I knew that they weren't the only ones; but this was the first time that I heard of an Australian example, if you know what I mean.
"How did I feel? Over the moon!"
:D I can imagine!
I wish you and your wife a fantastic weekend!
Cheers
Hi JJ and thank you for dropping by. It has been amazing researching a family member and those that have helped, I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Max! I only have on more post of my Great Uncle to complete the series. The next one is about the gifts he left for his family and the items sent to his mother after he died. Have a top weekend as well.
Take Care,
Peter
Peter:
What a great memorial post to your great Uncle Private Ralph Thomas Cooke. You have done him proud.
I will salute him on Veteran's day along with our own brave heroes.
Happy trails.
Hi Swubird! Thank you again for your heart warming comments towards our Great Uncle. The whole family appreciates this plus they will be overjoyed to hear what you will be doing on Veteran's Day.
Take Care,
Peter
Peter, Mr. Smith and his group they have done amazing job, and I am glad that you were able to find closure. Very nice place where your uncle rests.
BTW may be you can find my great grandfather, who left my great-grandmother, and left to Australia, because he could not take it anymore...lol...she was little tough woman to live with as I learned later in life, lol. Oh well, I was just kidding, I think we will never be able to find him, as he has not left anything behind him, just photos....
Peter that was great story to read about your family....Anna :)
Hi Anna and thank you. Sounds like a love story gone bad, that's for sure. Now, if you give me a few clues, I'll try and find out what happened to him. Won't hurt to try, will it? If not, no worries.
Take Care,
Peter
Wow, very cool Peter, I am heading over there now.
Thanks Peter, it is nice gesture, but you know its like looking for a needle in the hay stack, lol. For five years I have been scanning old family photos over 2000 pcs, and if I initiate this project now, oh boy I will be doing all the work again, which I don't mind but for now I rather spend time with my Matthew. Thanks Peter again, and it was very nice tribute to your uncle.
Anna :)
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