6095175 Corporal Ernest Alfred Cooke was born on 14^th July 1916 in Ellesmere, Shropshire; the son of William Henry Cooke and Elizabeth Mary (née Hall).

The 1921 census shows him living with his parents, paternal grandfather and siblings in Myddle, Shropshire.

In 1939 he was living in Ellesmere, Shropshire, employed as a factory worker. On 20^th July 1940 he enlisted with The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment.

He attended parachute course No. 55 at Ramat David, Palestine, from 20 July until 01 August 1943. After successfully completing his parachute course he was assigned to B Company, 11th Parachute Battalion.

Ernest took part in the Battle of Arnhem, during Op Market Garden, during which he died on 19 September 1944.

First buried near Bronbeek, a Royal Home for former soldiers of the the Royal Dutch Indo-European Army, about 2 km east of Arnhem, Ernest is now buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery 19.B.16.

Ernest was remembered in The Shrewsbury Chronicle on Friday October 13^th 1944:

"KILLED IN ACTION - Official information has been received of the death in action on September 19, of Corporal Ernest Alfred Cooke (Army Air Corps), the second son of White House, Crosemere, Cockshutt. Corporal Cooke, who was 27 years of age, had seen service in Malta, Palestine, and Siciliy, before taking part in recent operations in North West Europe. He was educated at Cockshutt C. of E. School and before joining the army in 1940 had been engaged in agricultural work."