Military history of James Cooke

There have been continual references to James Cooke and his military history and how and where he died in Natal. Over the next couple of weeks I will be adding snippets of my research.Pail Naish (see e-mail below) and Robin Smith have been invaluabble in assisting me with this fascinitating task.

               To summarise my research; I believe Sgt Cooke witnessed the battlefield on the evening of the battle of Isandlwana and must have been part of the relief force of Rorke's Drift in the early hours of the following morning.

             In this section of the family tree you are currently visiting I will in due course demonstrate how our we are related, by marriage, to Dick King as in Durban to Grahamstown horse ride and Sir Thomas Cullinan  as in the diamond.

If anyone out there can add to my research in any way please contactt me directly. Graham Goodwin.........079 4910294
From: African Byways [mailto:pnaish@eastcoast.co.za] Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 1:57 PM To: Graham Goodwin Cc: Robin Smith Subject: Re: Cooke Anytime. " I was a soldier"!

aye

PS: I have another idea up my sleeve which I will discuss with "Robin the Hood" my mate on patrols that we do together!

Dear Paul,

            The purpose of this e-mail is to express my gratitude of doing the research on my Great-grandfather. I am not the only grateful one, but also the extended members of the greater family. The contents of your e-mails have been e-mailed all over the world and they, like me, are amazed at what lengths you went to, to source the information. The extract from the Harness’s letters  is the cream on the top.

One family member has already expressed interest of now touring the battlefields. And I sure there will be more to follow . As I have said to her and others, we will do our utmost to support “ African Byways”. A lot of the Cooke descendants are back in England and they are always looking for an excuse to visit RSA!
Regards and thank you,
Graham Goodwin

Portfolio Manager