Burnett Neville Cook
Born 23 Feb 1919
- Service number
- 39304 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- —
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Burnett Neville AWMM
- Surname
- Cook AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- 39304 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 23 Feb 1919 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- Unknown AWMM Kerikeri Inlet, Bay of Islands, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Mrs Matilda Cook (mother), Kerikeri Inlet, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 39304 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
22 Jul 1943 AWMM
'Corporal Cook commanded one of the sections of the forward left platoon of A Company who were detailed to attack and take an objective to the right of TAKROUNA VILLAGE, Tunisia, on the night of 19-20 April 1943. He displayed outstanding courage, coolness and leadership throughout the attack, during which his Company came under terrific enemy shell, mortar and machine-gun fire causing heavy casualties, including all the officers. Entirely regardless of his own safety, he tended to the wounded and with a small party of helpers organised moving them to shelter. Although the whole of the area was under continual enemy fire, by his resourcefulness and devotion to duty he was able to evacuate all the wounded in his Company to the regimental aid post by the evening of 20 April.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Cook, Neville Bennet. (Ref. WO 373/25/465). Military Medal. AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, A Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- —
- Last rank
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Biographical information
- 'It was right on this track and among the cactus that my Coy eventually came to grief—practically all my leading men including the remaining Platoon Commander were wounded simultaneously through land mines connected up with trip wires…. At this point with less than half a company I decided to get in touch with Bn Headquarters but it appeared that my wireless was the only one in operation. It was then that I decided to look around to see how many men were left in the Coy but as I walked only five yeards or so from the track a mortar shell with New Zealand marked on it for me fell too close to miss. Lance Sergeant N. B. Cook, MM; Kerikeri; born Kerikeri, 23 Feb 1919; labourer; wounded 4 Sep 1942.
The loss of Major Porter completed the disorganisation of A Company. Some of the survivors attempted to carry on the attack but were finally halted at the foot of Djebel Bir. Corporal Cook organised a small party and removed all the wounded he could locate into shelter. He saved the lives of many men that night and earned the MM he later received.' (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p. 294.) AWMM
About death
- Death
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- Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
Further Reference - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
Further Reference - 'The KING has been pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.' (London Gazette, 22 July 1943, p.3315.). Military Medal.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36102/pages/3315
Further Reference - 'Corporal Cook commanded one of the sections of the forward left platoon of A Company who were detailed to attack and take an objective to the right of TAKROUNA VILLAGE, Tunisia, on the night of 19-20 April 1943. He displayed outstanding courage, coolness and leadership throughout the attack, during which his Company came under terrific enemy shell, mortar and machine-gun fire causing heavy casualties, including all the officers. Entirely regardless of his own safety, he tended to the wounded and with a small party of helpers organised moving them to shelter. Although the whole of the area was under continual enemy fire, by his resourcefulness and devotion to duty he was able to evacuate all the wounded in his Company to the regimental aid post by the evening of 20 April.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Cook, Neville Bennet. (Ref. WO 373/25/465). Military Medal.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7361684
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 2: WW2 40 - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
p.294.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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