A series of letters to a Middlewich father, trying to find out his son’s fate, received from a Winsford soldier on the front line in Gallipoli, told the story of the bravery of young Winsford and Middlewich men who found themselves in such a horrific scene.

Cap CT Cooke, of Middlewich and the co-owner of JH Cooke on Sons, had been missing from the 7th Bn Cheshire Regiment since August 9, 1915 – the day of his regiment’s charge at Suvla Bay, in Gallipoli which saw as many as 40,000 casualties and fatalities.

Capt Cooke’s father, Mr JH Cooke, received a letter from Winsford soldier, Sgt JR Roberts on September 17, informing him that his son has been missing for more than a month.

“I am very sorry to inform you that your son Capt CT Cooke, has been missing since August 9 and is still missing,” Sgt Roberts wrote.

“It happened while there was a sharp battle on. I have not seen him or heard anything of him, so I am afraid you can guess the consequence, if he fell in the hands of the enemy. We attacked and dug ourselves in. We have been at it since the 9th, and have not had a chance to have a wash yet.

“I am sitting in the front fire trenches writing this, and have to catch a wink when I can. The big guns are blazing at it now. A young man from Winsford named Tomkinson was killed two days ago and we have also a few wounded. The lads did not expect to have such a terrible time as we have had. We are all anxious to be in Winsford again, as we find this is no heaven.”

More than five weeks later, on October 29, Mr Cooke received another letter from his Winsford friend on the front line.

He said he had still not heard news of his son and went on to tell of the brave and ‘daring’ soldiers, lead whistling past their heads, and soldiers that ‘Cheshire may be proud of’.

He also noted the humanity of the Turks, who showed mercy on an injured soldier in no man’s land.

“I am sorry to say I cannot send you any good news,” Sgt Roberts said. “I have made all inquiries that is in my power. Capt Cooke is still reported as missing from his battalion. It was quite possible for him to have been taken prisoner by the Turks, but if that is not so, and you have not up to now received news about him, it is my opinion he was killed and buried by the Turks.

“As you know, we arrived early morning on August 9, and we advanced. Capt Cooke was in the rear of me and after getting so far something happened that caused us not to keep together. We, however, got nearer to the enemy, and he spoke to me and I to him. In my opinion he was too daring.

“I was more on the right with some of my men and could only get little information as to what was occurring to the left.

“My corporal was with Capt Cooke, and this is what he says: ‘After staying in the trenches all Monday night, Capt Cooke gave the word to advance, so we advanced in short rushes and small numbers. That was how it continued all Tuesday.

"From where I was I saw several officers fall, but to tell the truth it was too hot a place to look for anyone. A man was jolly lucky if he could look after himself and get back amongst his own. The last I can learn is that Capt Cooke led a few men up and they never returned.

"This I do know, he was doing his duty and was going about as cool as if he was in the streets of Bedford. When the lead was whistling past and apparently coming from everywhere it seemed a miracle how a man could move without getting hit.

"I believe my platoon was one of the luckiest. I had 56 in it when I left Bedford and now I have a roll call of 28. It was a case of having to do our best, and you can depend on it from what I saw, if they have been Saturday afternoon soldiers, they have proved that what the Terriers had learned had not been in vain, as their conduct and fighting so far has been what the people of Cheshire may be proud of.’

“On the third night after we arrived here we dug a trench to live in, so we have had all trench fighting and digging ever since. There are many risky bits we had to include in our routine. That is learning all about the Turks, so you may guess what that is.

"Our first spell in the firing trench was 19 days. Then we had a few days on the beach to bathe, shave and wash up. Then we had another eight days in and that is how we jog along. At the time of writing we are at the seaside for a few days’ rest, in which time we do plenty of sea bathing.

"We also get bread (not every day), bacon for breakfast, then some digging. For dinner we have stewed beef and plenty of bully beef and biscuits.

“What all the men seem most anxious about is some news from home and seem quite satisfied if they know all is well at home.

"Where we are is all hills and valleys, ploughed fields and a few farms. We can see a small village close to. I was very close to it one night. There is nothing to be seen here only soldiers and soldiers’ graves. We are hoping and anxious to get this job done with and to make a clean job of it so that we can get home again.

"We find there is still some humanity about the Turks. For instance a man from our division was wounded between our trench and the Turks, and the Turks threw to him bottles of water and food and some tea.

"He was there nine days, then he managed to creep to us more dead than alive.”

Reports suggest that Capt Cooke was never formally identified, but his father received a letter from the War Office in the summer of 1916 saying that they must conclude that Capt Cooke died in battle.

The letter read: "I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that no report has been received to create any hope that he is a prisoner of war. I am to say that the Council regret that no further report of Capt Cooke has been received and consequently in view of the lapse of time they are regretfully constrained to conclude that he died on or since August 10, 1915.