Arthur Malcolm Frederick Cook Sergeant 1067230 23 Squadron Fighter Command
RAF Volunteer Reserve
Died 9th September 1942 -aged 22
Malcolm was the fifth child of Johnathon and Victoria Cook. The family had moved from the Pen-y-Clawdd area in 1927 when Mr Cook took up the job of “lengthsman” for the Usk Road from Chepstow as far as the Cross Hands (now The Huntsman). Johnathon was a very keen gardener and Victoria took an active part in local entertainments. Altogether the Cooks had four sons and two daughters. They lived at “The Lilacs”, just a few yards down from Mounton’s village green (now roundabout!).on the Pwllmeyric road. Like most country cottages in those days there was no electricity or mains water. Water was fetched from a tap on the village green in a “water Jack” (a tall galvanised steel can) which needed two of the children to carry it.
After a couple of years at Pen-y-Clwydd school Malcolm transferred to the school at Mathern, moving on to Larkfield Grammar School at the age of 10. He was a typical local boy and led a good life in the rural surroundings. The Mounton Brook was teeming with trout and the boys became expert “ticklers” – the trout enjoyed having their tummies tickled but got a nasty shock when they were suddenly grabbed! He was a member of the Church choir at Mathern. This required some talent and considerable dedication: he had to walk to Mathern and back for Thursday practice plus the morning and evening Sunday services, with an extra service at Mounton some Sunday afternoons. All this walking was in addition to walking to school but there was a little consolation to be had – even on a Sunday there were two sweet shops open on the route . . . .
Malcolm grew into a fairly tall serious minded young man. He was employed in the Drawing Office of Fairfield Engineering Works at Chepstow and served an apprenticeship as a draughtsman before going into the RAF. He was presumably associated with the RAF in some way during his apprenticeship as 23 Squadron was a Volunteer Reserve Squadron.
At the time of his death he was the observer on a Mosquito fighter-bomber mark II, number DD-684. The only other crew member was the pilot, Sergeant G R Wright of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The aircraft went missing at 02.00 hours on the morning of 9th September whilst on a night intruder patrol over the Dutch coast in order to attack German aircraft and ground targets. Little is known of how the Mosquito was lost but the most likely cause was anti-aircraft fire.
Nothing was ever heard of Mosquito DD-684 again and it is believed to have come down in the sea off Eindhoven, Holland. Malcolm and his comrade are listed on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, which overlooks the River Thames on Cooper’s Hill near Windsor. This memorial commemorates all those airmen who fought with the Allies, lost their lives in North West Europe and the adjacent seas and have no known grave.
Both Malcolm’s sisters were nurses and his three brothers saw active service in the Army. Fortunately they all survived unharmed. Shortly before Malcolm was killed Mr and Mrs Cook had moved to Woodside, also known as The Owl’s Nest, alongside the Usk Road. Not only was this better for Mr Cook in his job, it had mains water and electricity and an excellent garden which Mrs Cook set up as a Tea Garden after the War.
Malcolm’s parents lived to enjoy a good retirement. The sisters and two brothers are still alive of whom one, Mr H P (“Bubbles”) Cook, still lives locally.
Malcolm with his sister Louise probably on his last visit home
