Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the grandson of Joseph Cooke an agricultural labourer, born 1812 in Peatling Magna, Leicestershire, and his wife Sarah Cook, born 1815 in Peatling Magna. Henry was born in 1885 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, also residing in his grandparents family home was their son George, born 1858 in Lutterworth, in April 1891 the family home was at the Cottage, Peatling Magna. In March 1901 Henry was employed as a general farm servant and was residing at Westfield House, Arnesby, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Henry was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India. In the 3rd quarter of 1886, his mother Elizabeth Cooke married Beeby (Simeon) Hubbard born 1861 in Willoughby Waterlees, Leicestershire, in the Lutterworth district. In March 1901 his widowed mother, Elizabeth Hubbard, born 1864 in Peatling Magna was an inmate of the Union Workhouse, Woodmarket, Lutterworth, her husband Simeon having died in 1896.
The War Diary records: 18 Dec-14 - The Battalion were in trenches at Rue du Bois – GD Flamanderie. Thirty reinforcements joined. Casualties one killed and one wounded.
On Saturday January 16th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – Information has been received that Lance Corporal H. Cooke, of the 1st Leicesters was killed in action on December 18th at a place not stated. Lance Corporal Cooke was called to the colours as a reservist on August 4th. He served eight years in India, and returned to England on December 1st 1911. He worked for the Corporation in the paying department, and was member of the Municipal Employees Band. He resided at 20, Duchess Street, Belgrave, at the time he was called back to his Regiment.