This is a photograph of my Grandfather Nathan Cook taken outside 38 Luke
Terrace, the home of his daughter Jane Ann Foster (nee Cook). He was born in
1894 in Bishop Auckland and passed away in 1975 at 29 Peter Lee Cottages.
Was shot in the arm, helmet and leg by a German machine gun
while throwing a grenade in the First World War. Was in the 7th East Yorks
Regiment and fought at both the Somme and Ypres. Was in hospital in Eastbourne
to recover from his wounds. Brought home a rifle and shell cases from the war.
Shell cases were used as coal scuttles. Lived through the Miner's Strike in 1926
and there is a photograph of the Primitive Methodist Soup Kitchen with him on
it.
Lost two fingers on his right hand at the pit about the time
that he was living in Shotton at 15 Doctors Row, which was owned by the
Weardale Coal and Coke Company. Other two fingers on that hand were not used and
one of them was bent over.
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