Ella was born in Auckland in New Zealand in 1881 and was educated at Grafton School. She trained as a nurse at Cook Hospital in Gisborne and Hawera Hospital, Taranaki. Ella and her sister travelled to Britain on a private trip in July 1914 and when war broke out, Ella volunteered for service overseas. She was posted to the French Flag Nursing Corps (FFNC) in November 1914 and was based in Bernay in Northern France. Ella was then sent to No. 17 General Hospital in Alexandria Egypt. She died on 8th September 1917and was buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt. Grave Reference: B. 25. I wonder if her grave receives any visitors?
Staff Nurse Ella Kate Cooke is commemorated at York Minster, York, UK
and on the Roll of Honour of Grafton School, Auckland, New Zealand.
With thanks to Callan Chevin of the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/greatwarmemory/for finding the photograph of Staff Nurse Cooke and to Debbie Cameron of the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1468972083412699/ for finding this link to additional information about Ella Cooke: http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C34375
