Biographical notes:
Son of Thomas Cook & Mary Ann Molony.
Enlisted in the AIF 13 Sep 1915 (he gave his age as 44 years & 11 months but was actually 51 years & 1 month old) , service number 521, Tunneling Company, rank: Sapper. Embarked on HMAT Ulysses, Sydney, 20 Feb 1916. Last unit: 1st Mining Corps. Returned to Australia 1 Feb 1918.
Notice in the Narracoorte Herald, 23 Jul 1920:
"The remains of the late D. Cook, who died at the Naracoorte Hospital last week were brought to Kingston on Monday night and interred in the Kingston cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, where a large number gathered to pay their last respects to the first one of our local soldiers who had died since returning home. The coffin was draped with the flag and was borne to the grave by four of his late comrades. The service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. Father Tangey. The deceased was badly gassed while at the front in France, and had been constantly ailing since. He has left a widow and four children, for whom much sympathy is felt."
Reference documents:
1864 birth registration index record.
1915 WWI Attestation Paper.
WWI Nominal Roll record.
Photo & service details (RSL Virtual War Memorial).