James Cooke

Bank: National Provincial Bank of England

Place of work: Manchester branch

Died: 21 October 1918

James Ashton Cooke was born in Haslingdon, Lancashire, on 9 November 1897, the son of Robert Cooke, a bank worker, and his wife Edith. He was educated at Manchester Central High School.

In September 1914, when he was 16 years old, Cooke followed his father into the banking profession, but whereas his father worked for Lancaster & Yorkshire Bank, Cooke became an apprentice in National Provincial Bank of England at its Manchester branch.

In 1916, at the age of 18, Cooke joined the army, serving as a Lance Corporal in The King's (Liverpool Regiment). He died in Belgium on 21 October 1918. He was 20 years old.