C1940. NX56978 PRIVATE W COOK, 2/10 FIELD AMBULANCE. PRIVATE COOK WAS A MEMBER OF THE FORCE ...

C1940. NX56978 PRIVATE W COOK, 2/10 FIELD AMBULANCE. PRIVATE COOK WAS A MEMBER OF THE FORCE DEFENDING NEW BRITAIN IN 1942. AFTER THE JAPANESE ATTACK HAD FORCED THE GARRISON TO WITHDRAW FROM RABAUL ON 23 JANUARY 1942 PRIVATE COOK AND A GROUP OF SEVEN OTHERS WERE CAPTURED ON A TRACK NEAR THE TOL PLANTATION ON 4 JANUARY 1942. THEY WERE TAKEN TO TOL PLANTATION, TIED UP IN GROUPS OF TWO OR THREE AND EVENTUALLY TAKEN OUT INTO THE JUNGLE BY THEIR CAPTORS TO BE EXECUTED. PRIVATE COOK'S GROUP OF THREE WERE ASKED IN SIGN LANGUAGE IF THEY PREFERRED TO BE SHOT OR BAYONETED. THEY ASKED TO BE SHOT. THEY WERE ALL BAYONETED IN THE BACK REPEATEDLY. PRIVATE COOK RECEIVED FIVE WOUNDS AND WAS LEFT FOR DEAD; UNABLE TO HOLD HIS BREATH HE WAS HEARD BREATHING AND WAS BAYONETED FURTHER SIX TIMES. PRIVATE COOK, STILL ALIVE, MANAGED TO UNTIE HIS HANDS AND MAKE HIS WAY TO THE BEACH. AT DUSK HE SAW THE SMOKE FROM A CAMP FIRE AND STAGGERED TOWARDS IT. THE NEXT MORNING HE FOUND A SMALL PARTY UNDER THE COMMAND OF COLONEL SCANLAN. PRIVATE COOK SURVIVED THE WAR ALTHOUGH HE LOST HIS VOICE AS A RESULT OF A BAYONET WOUND TO THIS THROAT. (DONOR: W. CONNELL)