Latest news with #KenCooke
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I come back to Normandy to say hello to comrades who didn't make it home'
Aged 99, D-Day veteran Ken Cooke has outlived almost every comrade but refuses to be called a hero. To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, he has returned to France to tell his story in the hope the sacrifice made by his generation is never forgotten. "I've come to see my friends who didn't come home," says Ken, as he pauses at a row of white headstones. Hermanville War Cemetery, near Sword Beach, is the final resting place of more than 900 men who died on D-Day and in the weeks that followed. Ken doesn't remember the names or the faces of many he fought beside, they didn't know each other for long in the noisy, bloody and shocking days that followed the Normandy invasion on 6 June, 1944. About 11,000 British troops were killed and 54,000 more were wounded in the battles to re-enter the continent. Ken says: "I'm very lucky because I've had an extra 80 years of life compared to these fellas. "It upsets me when I think about it. I come to say hello, see how they are going on kind of thing." I first met Ken 11 years ago, when I accompanied seven veterans from York who were heading to Normandy for the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Now Ken is the last of the "Magnificent Seven" who can still give a first-hand account of the horrors of World War Two. At Gold Beach, where Ken landed aged 18, he recalls what he saw: "All we could see of the beach was the dust, smoke and some fires as well. "I can't explain why, but I was leaning over the side of the landing craft just watching all the fireworks. "Rockets going, battleships firing, artillery firing from the bigger landing craft, the sergeants and the corporals were shouting get off the beaches as quick as we can. They said if anybody falls down or gets shot leave them." Ken is remarkable, even aged 99 he walks without a stick, has an excellent memory and a cheeky sense of humour. He turned down an invitation from Buckingham Palace to come here to Normandy for VE Day. He is the guest of honour on a battlefield coach tour. The 34 passengers won a newspaper competition to be here with Ken. They listen in awe on Gold Beach as the freezing wind sends hats and hairdos flying as he tells his story. Ken remembers feeling exciting not scared, this was "a bit of an adventure". It was the first time he had ever been on a boat. His abiding memory is the shock of wet socks as he stepped off the landing craft as part of the second wave of troops. It was only the morning after he realised just how serious it was. "We looked around at breakfast and someone said, 'where's Tommy? Where's Geordie? Where is so and so?," he says. "There is a row of graves in Bayeux where there is 12 Green Howards (Ken's regiment) all in a row and I have stood there and I have cried because I could have been one of those - just as simple as that." Ken was badly wounded by a mortar bomb after about four weeks in Normandy and was airlifted home. It's likely this saved his life. By September many of the Green Howards had been wiped out in the push towards Arnhem in the Netherlands. Ken sits at the front of the coach for the five- day battlefield tour and readily takes the mic to add extra insight alongside the guide Leger Battlefield Tour guide, Ben Mayne. Ben says it is an "honour" to accompany Ken on this pilgrimage. "It's a very poignant time to come to France for the Victory in Europe liberation. "Ken's memories have been brilliant. When he says he was more concerned about getting his feet wet than the Germans firing at him, it's amazing to hear those stories. We are never going to forget this. "I am sure that we will always remember them. It's so important the younger generation hear Ken's story to ensure this never happens again." Ken wears his uniform, medals and his cap badge proudly throughout the trip and at each stop he is thanked and asked for photos and handshakes. He never says no and always has a joke or a smile. Ken has become a symbol of generation we are losing, did we ever thank them enough? I ask if he enjoys the attention. "I do, I feel a kind of happiness that these people would want to shake my hand which tells me I have done something," he says, then adds with a cheeky smile, "I should be charging, if I was I'd be on my yacht!" After recovering from injury in Normandy, Ken was deemed fit to serve once again and sent to Belgium where he joined the Highland Light Infantry and spent several months pushing across the Rhine into Germany. Near Bremen, Ken's war journey ended. He had shell shock, now called PTSD, and was sent home in spring 1945. Ken was in hospital when VE Day was declared and the excitement of it all passed him by. He returned home to York, was given two weeks leave, then life returned to normal. It would be 40 years before Ken spoke about his war experiences. His son Stephen was 30 when he first learned of his father's heroism. He is incredibly proud. SIMPLE GUIDE: VE Day moments so far - and what's still to come IN PICTURES: Red Arrows, royals, veterans and tea WATCH: Unseen royal moments from VE Day commemorations 360 VIDEO: Experience the flypast from inside a Red Arrows cockpit EXPLORE: More on VE Day "Dad loves to come back, he becomes very emotional but it's also enjoyable. It's nice to see the respect people here in France have for all the veterans. "It's very difficult for me to think what dad was doing on D-Day, when he was 18 and then I think what I was doing when I was 18 and there is no comparison." For me personally, Ken reminds me of my grandfathers both of whom served in World War Two. Both died many years ago but I have been able to ask Ken questions I wish I could have asked them. And when I give Ken a hug at the end of this trip and say "Thank you for everything you did", I'll also be thanking my grandfathers and all those who put the country and our future freedom first. Ken will turn 100 in August. I ask if this be his last trip back to Normandy to relive the moments which became a pivotal moment in world history? He looks at me and laughs: "I might come back again, it would be a wonderful experience… if I keep taking my tablets I probably will." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. 'VE Day was the beginning of a different life' Dickie Bird: 'The war was very frightening - but VE Day was magnificent'
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
D-Day veteran on returning to Normandy on VE Day 80th anniversary
Aged 99, D-Day veteran Ken Cooke has outlived almost every comrade but refuses to be called a hero. To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, he has returned to France to tell his story in the hope the sacrifice made by his generation is never forgotten."I've come to see my friends who didn't come home," says Ken, as he pauses at a row of white War Cemetery, near Sword Beach, is the final resting place of more than 900 men who died on D-Day and in the weeks that followed. Ken doesn't remember the names or the faces of many he fought beside, they didn't know each other for long in the noisy, bloody and shocking days that followed the Normandy invasion on 6 June, 1944. About 11,000 British troops were killed and 54,000 more were wounded in the battles to re-enter the says: "I'm very lucky because I've had an extra 80 years of life compared to these fellas. "It upsets me when I think about it. I come to say hello, see how they are going on kind of thing."I first met Ken 11 years ago, when I accompanied seven veterans from York who were heading to Normandy for the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Now Ken is the last of the "Magnificent Seven" who can still give a first-hand account of the horrors of World War Two. At Gold Beach, where Ken landed aged 18, he recalls what he saw: "All we could see of the beach was the dust, smoke and some fires as well."I can't explain why, but I was leaning over the side of the landing craft just watching all the fireworks. "Rockets going, battleships firing, artillery firing from the bigger landing craft, the sergeants and the corporals were shouting get off the beaches as quick as we can. They said if anybody falls down or gets shot leave them."Ken is remarkable, even aged 99 he walks without a stick, has an excellent memory and a cheeky sense of humour. He turned down an invitation from Buckingham Palace to come here to Normandy for VE Day. He is the guest of honour on a battlefield coach tour. The 34 passengers won a newspaper competition to be here with Ken. They listen in awe on Gold Beach as the freezing wind sends hats and hairdos flying as he tells his remembers feeling exciting not scared, this was "a bit of an adventure". It was the first time he had ever been on a boat. His abiding memory is the shock of wet socks as he stepped off the landing craft as part of the second wave of troops. It was only the morning after he realised just how serious it was."We looked around at breakfast and someone said, 'where's Tommy? Where's Geordie? Where is so and so?," he says."There is a row of graves in Bayeux where there is 12 Green Howards (Ken's regiment) all in a row and I have stood there and I have cried because I could have been one of those - just as simple as that." Ken was badly wounded by a mortar bomb after about four weeks in Normandy and was airlifted home. It's likely this saved his life. By September many of the Green Howards had been wiped out in the push towards Arnhem in the sits at the front of the coach for the five- day battlefield tour and readily takes the mic to add extra insight alongside the guide Leger Battlefield Tour guide, Ben says it is an "honour" to accompany Ken on this pilgrimage. "It's a very poignant time to come to France for the Victory in Europe liberation."Ken's memories have been brilliant. When he says he was more concerned about getting his feet wet than the Germans firing at him, it's amazing to hear those stories. We are never going to forget this."I am sure that we will always remember them. It's so important the younger generation hear Ken's story to ensure this never happens again." Ken wears his uniform, medals and his cap badge proudly throughout the trip and at each stop he is thanked and asked for photos and handshakes. He never says no and always has a joke or a smile. Ken has become a symbol of generation we are losing, did we ever thank them enough? I ask if he enjoys the attention."I do, I feel a kind of happiness that these people would want to shake my hand which tells me I have done something," he says, then adds with a cheeky smile, "I should be charging, if I was I'd be on my yacht!" After recovering from injury in Normandy, Ken was deemed fit to serve once again and sent to Belgium where he joined the Highland Light Infantry and spent several months pushing across the Rhine into Bremen, Ken's war journey ended. He had shell shock, now called PTSD, and was sent home in spring 1945. Ken was in hospital when VE Day was declared and the excitement of it all passed him returned home to York, was given two weeks leave, then life returned to normal. It would be 40 years before Ken spoke about his war son Stephen was 30 when he first learned of his father's heroism. He is incredibly proud. SIMPLE GUIDE: VE Day moments so far - and what's still to comeIN PICTURES: Red Arrows, royals, veterans and teaWATCH: Unseen royal moments from VE Day commemorations360 VIDEO: Experience the flypast from inside a Red Arrows cockpitEXPLORE: More on VE Day "Dad loves to come back, he becomes very emotional but it's also enjoyable. It's nice to see the respect people here in France have for all the veterans."It's very difficult for me to think what dad was doing on D-Day, when he was 18 and then I think what I was doing when I was 18 and there is no comparison."For me personally, Ken reminds me of my grandfathers both of whom served in World War Two. Both died many years ago but I have been able to ask Ken questions I wish I could have asked when I give Ken a hug at the end of this trip and say "Thank you for everything you did", I'll also be thanking my grandfathers and all those who put the country and our future freedom will turn 100 in August. I ask if this be his last trip back to Normandy to relive the moments which became a pivotal moment in world history?He looks at me and laughs: "I might come back again, it would be a wonderful experience… if I keep taking my tablets I probably will." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
ITV News
05-05-2025
- General
- ITV News
Last remaining York Normandy veteran shares memories of D-Day
• York veteran Ken Cooke recounts his experience of the D-Day landings more than 80 years ago.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
"Like 1,000 fireworks' nights": D-Day veteran gives talk at Millthorpe
A D-Day veteran gave an "inspirational" talk to students about his experiences during World War II. Ken Cooke, who turns 100 this year, visited Millthorpe School to speak to 240 Year 9 students. The visit was organised after Mr Cooke's granddaughter, who works at the school, mentioned that he was in Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemorations last year. The visit was organised after a remark by Mr Cooke's granddaughter, who works at the school (Image: Supplied) Assistant principal and teacher Adam Baybutt was eager to invite Mr Cooke to speak to the students. The students had recently learned about D-Day as part of their history curriculum and were chosen to hear Mr Cooke's talk. To prepare for the talk, the students investigated other D-Day readings, including one from a diary of another D-Day veteran, WM Christie, who is the great-great-grandfather of a current Year 9 student. To prepare for the talk, the students investigated other D-Day readings (Image: Supplied) Mr Cooke, who was called up aged 18, shared his experiences of being sent to basic training and arriving in Southampton on June 4, 1944, realising he was about to take part in something monumental. He landed at Gold Beach at 7.45am on June 6, 1944, and despite his young age and lack of training, he recalls a sense of excitement. He described the scene to be "like 1,000 fireworks' nights all at once. "I don't know why I did it, but I just rested on the side and watched it all happen." It was only when he learned of the tragic deaths of some of his friends that the enormity and danger of the situation began to sink in. Mr Cooke later suffered a serious shrapnel wound and returned to Britain to recover. Mr Cooke was called up at the age of 18 (Image: Supplied) He returned to action in Germany, where he was injured for a second time towards the end of the war. His hour-long talk concluded to "rapturous applause" from the students, who were deeply moved by his first-hand account. He left the students with a powerful message for the future: "I want you to promise me now that you won't let what happened to me, happen to you. "Can you promise me that?" Mr Baybutt said: "It is difficult to put into words just how fortunate and privileged we feel at being able to welcome Mr Cooke into our school. "This is undoubtedly a highlight of my 17-year career at Millthorpe. "The students were impeccable and listened to Ken's talk with interest and complete respect." Students from other year groups who did not attend the talk were invited to come along to the main hall at the end of the school day, and more than 80 students did so. They waited patiently to meet Mr Cooke, shake his hand, ask pertinent questions, and even have a photo taken. After the talk, many students wrote letters of thanks to Mr Cooke.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tears shed as York Normandy veteran recites poem at honorary Strensall event
A York D-Day veteran was honoured at an annual event and his recital from a Second World War poem was greeted with warm applause and a few tears were shed. Ken Cooke, 99, and his support crew were invited to Spearehead Community Cafe at St Mary's Church in Strensall on March 19, for what has become an annual event. Recommended reading: Ken Cooke celebrated by First Bus with bus named after him Ken Cooke joins Remembrance service at Station Rise memorial York D-Day veteran recalls 80th anniversary of campaign Volunteers from Spearehead Community Cafe with Ken Cooke (Image: Mick Child) Nick Beilby from York Normandy Veterans said: "The volunteers had arranged for maximum attendance and made a great fuss of Ken and his friends. "The bacon sandwiches, cake, and coffee were superb. "Ken read the moving poem The Veteran and there was a stunned silence and tears followed by great applause. "He picked up a copy at Pegasus Bridge in Normandy some years back and it perfectly encapsulates what Ken and all the others who contributed to the war effort went through." Ken was presented with a cheque for more than £250, which will go towards an oak bench commemorating York Normandy veterans on the Soldier's Lawn in York Cemetery. A member of the Fishergate Army Cadets, Ken was called up on his 18th birthday before being posted to The Green Howards 7th Battalion. It was from there he became involved in the June 6 D-Day landing in 1944.
