Mrs Frances Cook of Helensburgh contacted Perth Academy and sent us a copy of the Perth Congregational Church magazine containing the message written by the Rev. Daniel Cook, having just received the news of his son's death on active service in North Africa. The message is reproduced below and concludes with the words: "Is there not in these lines a message for all of us?"

INFORMATION KINDLY SUPPLIED BY MRS FRANCES COOK, HELENSBURGH

William Geoffrey Cook, known to everyone as Geoff, and his twin brother Douglas, were born in 1919. They had an older brother Henry, who was born in 1917. All three boys were educated at Perth Academy, where Geoffrey excelled at music, and was an accomplished pianist and organist. All three boys were also members of the Congregational Church Scout Group. While still at school Geoffrey played in St. John’s Kirk, leading the school choir from the organ in a Mendelssohn chorus.

He enrolled at the Scottish National Academy of Music, where he achieved the almost unique distinction of winning the gold medal for pianoforte in open competition in his first year. In his final year he was elected by his fellow students as President of their society.

Geoffrey Cook’s father, the Revd. Daniel Cook, was born in Aberdeenshire, and studied for the ministry at Yorkshire Independent College, Bradford, being ordained in 1914. He was a Congregational minister at: Norvisthorpe, Lancashire, from 1914 to 1922; Horwich, Lancashire, from 1922 to 1930; Perth, from 1930 to 1944; Helensburgh, from 1944 to 1958; and finally at Aberfeldy, from 1958, until his retirement.

When Revd. Cook was the minister of the Congregational Church, in Kinnoull Street, Perth, the family lived at 27 Kincarrathie Crescent. Geoffrey’s twin brother Douglas was ordained as a minister, but never took a church, choosing to work through Moral Re-armament, and worked with London Dockers, in Argentina, and in India, where he died in 1969. Geoffrey’s older brother Henry was inducted at Russell Chapel, Dundee subsequently becoming Minister at Knightswood Congregational Church, Glasgow, before becoming the minister at Hawick in 1949.

When Geoffrey Cook was killed, the lorry he and his comrades were travelling in was hit by a stray shell when they thought they were out of range. As it was late his friends dug a shallow grave and put up a marker, meaning to return next day. During the night a storm had blown up and Geoffrey’s body was never found. He is, therefore, commemorated on the Medjez-el-Bab memorial to the missing.

Geoffrey's brother, Henry, arranged for a memorial to be erected in the graveyard in Essie, near Rhynie, Aberdeenshire. This memorial also records the names of Geoffrey’s immediate family, and many of his ancestors also lie in the same graveyard.

Perthshire Constitutional and Journal, 23rd April 1943

“PERTH MINISTER’S SON KILLED IN ACTION"

“Information has been received by the Rev. Daniel Cook, Congregational Church, Perth, and Mrs Cook that their twin son, Geoffrey Cook, has been killed in action in North Africa, when serving with the Eighth Army."

“Geoffrey Cook was a pupil of Perth Academy, and was regarded as a most promising musician. While a pupil he had played the organ at the annual service, which Academy pupils attend in St John’s Kirk before each summer vacation.”

Geoffrey Cook is also commemorated on the Perth Congregational Church War Memorial.