1/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment attached 13th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 11 January 1919.

Cooke was native of Burnley, Lancashire.

The citation for his Military Cross published in the London Gazette of 11 January 1919 reads, "For conspicuous gallantry and able leadership in command of his company in the attack. Owing to a check to his battalion on his left, his men were subjected to enfilade as well as direct machine gun fire, and were also in danger of being surrounded. Entirely by his initiative he extricated them from an untenable position, and at the same time inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. He set a fine example of courage and coolness".