Chapter 17 on the Second World War records that 4 bellringers served in HM Forces during the war. One of these – Reginald Graydon Cooke – was my second cousin (once removed).
He joined the RAF in September 1940, and sailed for Singapore in May 1941. A few days before the fall of Singapore, he escaped to Java, where he was later taken prisoner by the Japanese on 8 March 1942, having been based at RAF Sembawang. He was last heard of by the British authorities in July 1942, and was officially posted missing in April 1943. His wife received the news that he was a POW of the Japanese in a Java camp via the International Red Cross. Sadly, by the time she received this news in June 1943, he had already died of Bacillary Dysentry on 26 May 1943, and been buried in the POW Cemetery, Kariu Village, Haruku Island. She received official confirmation of his death in November/December 1943 but had not heard from him directly since 13 February 1942. He was re-buried on 5 February 1947 at Galala War Cemetery in Ambon, and his grave (Plot 2 A 7 in Ambon War Cemetery) is marked with a commemoration stone inscribed “Those Who Loved Him Never Forget”.
It is lovely to discover that a muffled quarter peal was rung to his memory on the morning of Sunday 12th December 1943 by the Whittington bell ringers. A very belated thanks to them – and a huge thanks to you for all the content on the website!
3 responses to “New Addition to Website”
Chapter 17 on the Second World War records that 4 bellringers served in HM Forces during the war. One of these – Reginald Graydon Cooke – was my second cousin (once removed).
He joined the RAF in September 1940, and sailed for Singapore in May 1941. A few days before the fall of Singapore, he escaped to Java, where he was later taken prisoner by the Japanese on 8 March 1942, having been based at RAF Sembawang. He was last heard of by the British authorities in July 1942, and was officially posted missing in April 1943. His wife received the news that he was a POW of the Japanese in a Java camp via the International Red Cross. Sadly, by the time she received this news in June 1943, he had already died of Bacillary Dysentry on 26 May 1943, and been buried in the POW Cemetery, Kariu Village, Haruku Island. She received official confirmation of his death in November/December 1943 but had not heard from him directly since 13 February 1942. He was re-buried on 5 February 1947 at Galala War Cemetery in Ambon, and his grave (Plot 2 A 7 in Ambon War Cemetery) is marked with a commemoration stone inscribed “Those Who Loved Him Never Forget”.
It is lovely to discover that a muffled quarter peal was rung to his memory on the morning of Sunday 12th December 1943 by the Whittington bell ringers. A very belated thanks to them – and a huge thanks to you for all the content on the website!
Chris Cooke
Thanks Chris
Chris by pure chance I recorded a small clip of the bells with the half muffled tribute to Reginald.
https://whittingtonhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-40-40-1.m4a