George Cooke, an Olympian Soldier

By Ross Collinge

When I was a young man growing up in New ­Zealand in the ’50s and ’60s, traditionally we played ­rugby in the winter, and cricket in summer. Some schools ­catered for hockey, but that was considered a game for “­cry-­babies”, and was social death. Looking at contemporary sport, it is hard at times to see past the media coverage of Rugby Union, Cricket, Rugby League, Netball, and now sailing, thanks to the success of America’s Cup racing. For New Zealand Olympians it is a matter of training Darcy Hadfield (1889- hard, out of the spotlight, unnoticed by the press and 1964) was the first general public. Rowing falls into this category. I suspect New Zealand rower, that there are only two or three current rowers whose and achieved third names may be familiar to us. place at the Olympic The remarkable tradition of New Zealand rowing was Games in 1920 in ­ established in the early 20th century, when three ­single ­Antwerp. He narrowly scullers, Billy Webb, Dick Arnst, and Darcy Hadfield lost in the semi-final ­became world champions. In 1907 in Sydney, ­, to the later Olympic ­William Webb won the Professional Single Sculls champion John Kelly Champion­ship title which he lost a year later, on the (USA). Only the Wanganui River, New Zealand, to Richard Arnst. On 18th ­winners of the two August 1910, Dick Arnst defended his title against Ernest semi-finals took part Barry, an Englishman, on the Zambezi River in Northern ­athletics, boxing, swimming and wrestling staged in the final. A race for Rhodesia. How you got to the Zambezi in 1910, I have no as part of the celebrations for the coronation of King the bronze medal did idea but it would not have been easy. Richard’s ­younger George V. That very same year New Zealand’s National not take place. brother went ahead of them on the river to shoot the Olympic Committee had been established in its own Right: Prior to crocodiles. right but this move not ratified by the IOC in time for the ­embarkation: George Arnst defended his title successfully over the next few team to compete as New Zealand in Stockholm. Campbell Cooke in his years until he came up against Barry again and racing Then came the outbreak of war, so it was not ­until army uniform in 1939. on the Thames, this time Barry won. The First World War the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp that a New ­Zealand broke out and rowing competitions were suspended, team first appeared in its own right. A team of four Photos: New Zealand Olympic Museum; Charles Callis, and until after the war, when Arnst became Professional competitors included the first rower to participate at Stephen Donnell World Champion again. an ­Olympic Games for New Zealand – Darcy Clarence Before the First World War, New Zealanders went to Hadfield. He competed in the Single Sculls and won the the Olympics in a combined team styled Australasia bronze medal. He was at a significant disadvantage to when they competed in . This was also the case his rivals, as the New Zealand team only arrived at the in 1911 at the a small scale contest in Games two days before the start of competition, after a three month voyage by sea from New Zealand. In becoming the first New Zealander to win a medal in Ross Collinge | *1944. Started rowing in early 1963; won first premier title in 1967 (coxed 4); Olympic Games 1968 coxed rowing at the Olympics, Darcy was the first in a long line of 4 gold medal, 1972 coxless 4 silver medal; 1970 and 1971 world New Zealand rowing crews to excel at the ­Olympic Games. rowing champs coxed four. Took time out for 2 years to get a career (pharmacy) up and running, then 1975 World rowing He wore a black singlet with the silver fern (the same as champs 8: 3rd. Retired from pharmacy in 2010. Now seem to be the ­fabled New Zealand All Black Rugby ­Union team) and busier than ever, but not quite sure how that is! used black blades with the silver fern. A ­tradition was born.

28 In 1922, Hadfield turned professional, in order to ­adopted by the New Zealand Rugby teams and is c­hallenge Arnst for the World Single Sculls title, on the also used by other sporting teams to throw down the Wanganui River. Hadfield won, and he held the title for a ­gauntlet to opposition teams. It emphasised that if you short time before losing it to an Australian, Jim ­Paddon. want to beat us, you are going to work extremely hard, as we are never going to give a victory away lightly. 1932 team was the first to perform a “Haka” There was another New Zealander in Los Angeles: He was Tom Sullivan, the coach of the German gold medal In 1932, a team of 21, including 12 rowers, competed winning coxed four in 1932. He had won the professional at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. It was the shortest sculling championship of England on 25 Sep­tember 1893. ­distance that an Olympic Games team from New Zealand He moved to Germany in 1911, coaching at the Berliner The Olympic ID card of had ever had to travel. The team embarked on the RMS Ruder Club. He moved to Austria in 1919, before return- George Cooke in 1932 Monowai on the 14th June, 1932, arriving in San Francisco ing to his coaching position at the Berliner Ruder Club. in Los Angeles. on July 1. Tom enjoyed extraordinary success at the Berliner Ruder Below: ‘Ka mate! Ka The Eight was stroked by George Cooke, who was a Club, but the gold medal crew of 1932 would be his finest mate!’ (tis death! tis member of the Star Boating Club in Wellington. ­(Another coaching achievement. death), ‘ka ora! ka member of the Star Boating Club was Tennant “Tay” Maybe this is where the association between German ora!’ (tis life! tis life!). ­Wilson, who later became the Secretary-General of and New Zealand rowing crews began, for it lead to a The eight boat gave the New Zealand Olympic and great rivalry and close racing, especially in the fours and the ‘Olympic premiere' ­Association, Chef de Mission for the Olympic team at the eights inthe 1960’s and 1970’s. of the ‘haka’ in 1932. 1980 Moscow Games, and then became the IOC ­Member When war came again, George Cooke, stroke of the The Eight lays down a to New Zealand for many years.) New Zealand eight, enlisted with the 19th Battalion, New challenge to their A coxed four was also raced – selected from members of Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and saw action initially competitors. The the Eight. On the first day of racing there was only a two near Olympus in Greece. The Allied troops from New ‘haka’ was first used hour break between the races for the coxed four and the Zealand, Australia, Britain and Greece lost the battle in when a New Zealand Eight. Unfortunately this was reflected in their failure to Greece, and were evacuated to Crete. The battle of Crete Rugby selection played make their finals. Germany was the only other ­country is well documented. The British author Evelyn Waugh in New South Wales in that had men from their eight rowing in other events, fought there, as did the German heavyweight boxer and 1884. and their eight did not make the final either. former world champion, Max Schmeling. In 1932 many countries were in the grip of the On the 20th May 1941, Corporal Cooke was in charge of 10 ­depression, jobs were scarce and funding was always an men sent to act at sentries for a British howitzer unit. At issue. The New Zealand pair of Fred “Rangi” Thompson around 11.00 am that morning, they saw action against and Cyril “Bob” Stiles, were told “unpack your bags, as a group of German paratroopers, and he was wounded there is not enough funding available”. I imagine that in this action. He was captured, and sent to a German they were doing what we did in the years from 1968 Prisoner of War hospital near Galatos, Crete. to 1972 – standing on a street corner on a Friday night While he was in this hospital he received special care ­asking people to put any spare change on the foot- and attention from a member of the German medical path – ­making a “copper trail”. Or perhaps a traditional staff. This man was understood to be a doctor, and also “pig in a barrow”raffle through the pubs on a Saturday. thought to be an Olympian. Tragically, his efforts proved ­However they raised the money, they made it to Los in vain for George died from his wounds on 23 May 1941. ­Angeles, and won a silver medal, even though they had to use a boat that was six years old. During the race a After the 1968 Olympic victory, the search began back stay broke but they clung on to win a medal. The New Zealand Olympic team of 1932 was the first If the details can be confirmed, it would represent a great to perform a “haka”. Originally it was a challenge story of compassion and friendship, over-riding the laid down by Maori, the indigenous New ­Zealanders ­terrible conflict of that time. And I believe that this would in ­ceremony, or as a challenge before battle. ­It was have special resonance for German and New Zealand ­Olympians. Aware of my own background in the sport of rowing, about a year ago, Charles Callis, from the New Zealand ­Olympic Museum asked me to investigate. In 1968 I had competed in the Coxed Four at the ­Mexico Olympic Games where we won gold. At this time my wife Valerie was a nurse working at Wellington ­Hospital. One of her patients was John Cooke, George’s father. As they talked, they found that they had rowing and the O­lympic Games in common. When I returned from Mexico, Valerie

JOH 2 | 2014 George Cooke, an Olympian Soldier 29 The New Zealand coach ­Robert John Griffiths 23 battalion (Canterbury-­Otago) was Tom Sullivan (1868- one of 4 Army Chaplains who volunteered to stay ­behind 1949) led the in Crete (rather than be evacuated) to care for ­injured Rowing Club in 1932 ­allied soldiers. He wrote to the Cooke ­family, to advise in Los Angeles to the them of George's death, from Stalag V111 B. I ­understand Olympic gold medal in that at war's end, he may have had a ­de-brief, and if the coxed four. Photo so, his notes will be held at the Imperial War Museum from left: Sullivan, ­archives in London. And may provide more information Joachim Spremberg, about who may have cared for George. , Horst So if any of the Journal's readers could access this Hoeck, and source for Volker and me, it would be really appreciated. Karlheinz Neumann. In 2004 during the Olympic Games in Athens, Sir ­Murray The New Zealand boat Halberg (New Zealand Olympic gold medallist, 10,000 m was fourth in the took my gold medal into the hospital to show him. She Rome 1960) and members of the New Zealand ­Olympic ­final. placed the medal around his neck and he became very team held a ceremony at the Athens War Memorial in emotional, talking about George, the Olympics, and Phaleron, where an urn to symbolising the spiritual Photo: Volker Kluge Archive Crete. There were lots of tears all round. This episode has ­union between the people of New Zealand and Greece made my search very personal. was buried. Then, to acknowledge the significance of the So I started my very amateur enquiries. One of my death of our Olympian George Cooke, poppies were laid emails ended up in Volker Kluge’s in-box, and it under his name at the memorial. emerged that he too had heard of this story. This was It saddens me that many Olympians from many wonderful news for me and he has helped me in this countries were injured or died during this war. It is this search for this “needle in the haystack.” ­Olympic association, and the relationship which formed In time, Volker came up with a name: Dr. Karl Aletter1, between two Olympians on opposing sides, which who was the stroke of the coxless four and along with makes George’s death so very poignant. Ernst Gaber, Walter Flinsch, and , won the George’s younger sister, Kath Beatson, is still alive and ­silver medal at the 1932 Olympic Games. It is a funny old has written a book about George called “The Olympian world, as I won silver in the same event forty years later Soldier – G. C. Cooke”. in Munich. However we also uncovered some other pos- Research on this story still continues and we would be sible names which still need to be researched. (Dr. Carl grateful for any help or contributions that readers may Langemeyer was with the 2nd Paratrooper Medic squad. be able to provide. Although a sportsman, he did not compete at an ­Olympic On a personal note, I really enjoyed the rowing at the Games. In 1959 a number of allied soldiers, veterans of London Olympics. And as I watched the crews charging the Battle of Crete, got in touch with Dr. Langemeyer, as down the course, I got a real sense of “that was me once”. they had received medical attention from him). I realised that in a few years’ time, the current group of Olympians will be sitting in a stand, c­heering on their George Cooke’s Official countrymen. I had a real feeling that I was a part of the War Record notes that Olympic story, and very proud that I was once ­fortunate he was taken prisoner enough to have competed at an Olympic Games. When I while wounded in the got home, I contacted the rowing ­selectors from that time attack by German and thanked them for selecting me! Roll on 2016! • ­parachutists on Crete on 20 May 1941 and died three days later 1 Dr. Karl Aletter (1906-1991) stroke in the ‘silver’ medal four and in in a war hospital near the eight. During the Second World War he served on the eastern front as a troop doctor. The existing documents are not sufficient to Galatos, Crete. give definitive proof of his service on Crete in 1941.

References

19th NZ Battalion on Crete - W. Bishop’s personal diary. Kath Beatson, The Olympian Soldier – G.C Cooke. Peter Bidwell, Reflections of Gold. A celebration of New Zealand ­rowing, Harper Collins Publishers, Auckland 2010. Michael Grace, The Dolly Varden Legacy. The History of the Wellington Rowing Club.

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