Lieutenant Edmund Cooke (1891-1969) moved to Wickhamford after the Second World War. He was born in Godley Hyde, Cheshire, the son of solicitor Joe Cooke and his wife Eliza. He attended the Motor Engineering School of the Victoria University of Manchester in 1910-11.
Edmund was employed by a motor engineering company in Manchester in 1916 when he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps. He was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant on 21st February 1916 and an ‘E.O. 3’ (Equipment Officer, grade 3) on 4th April. Edmund Cooke was promoted to Lieutenant on 4th May 1917 and ‘E.O. 2’ on 15th December that year. He was transferred to the newly formed R.A.F. in May 1918 and on the 30th May was stationed at Vendome in France.
His R.A.F. service record states that he had considerable experience in high powered internal combustion engines since joining the R.F.C. By 1918 he had 19 months experience with aero engines in the squadron and had attended special courses on engines at Farnborough in February 1916 and at Bau, France in May 1916. He was transferred to the ‘Unemployed List’ on 17th March 1919 and his record states that his ‘service was considered for the grant of War Medals’. Presumably he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
Edmund (known as ‘Ted’) Cooke married Eva Cull in South Wales in 1925; they had no children. After the Second World War they lived in Robin Cottage, Manor Road, Wickhamford. An article on the village in the Midlands edition on the TV Times of 15th May 1960 mentions him as being on the village hall committee and a vicar’s warden. Eva Cooke was secretary to the church council.