Is it possible to find no records on a WW1 veteran?

[nelliec]

I am trying to trace a soldier called Harold William Cooke. He fought in the First World War and lost a leg. He was born in c1899 and probably enlisted in about 1916 (and lied about his age). He was injured within a few months of seeing action.

There are no service records on ancestry, but I know these are incomplete. There is no Medal Roll Card Index entry for a H W Cooke (although there are a few for H Cookes).

In 1928, when he married, he was described as an army pensioner, but his records do not appear in the army pension records on ancestry.

I know he lived in Bristol after the War, but don't know where he was before that (perhaps Bristol or Malta or Spain?) and have no information on his regiment.

Have I missed any possible sources of information?

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

Over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz.  Those that survived are the only ones available on the subscription sites

[CaroleW]

Where was he born?

[nelliec]

Where was he born?

I've heard his dad was in the forces and that he may have been born in Malta. His mother may have been Spanish and he gave his children Spanish names, which adds weight to this theory. I haven't found any birth record for him in the GRO indexes.

[CaroleW]

From the Medal Roll Index but no E

Harold William Cook Worcester S Regiment 52288

[CaroleW]

There is no Medal Roll Card Index entry for a H W Cooke

There are 4 Harold W Cooke entries on the MRI

Harold W Cooke    Royal Warwickshire Regiment    131       
Harold W Cooke    Loyal North Lancashire Regiment    33611       
Harold W Cooke    Wiltshire Regiment, Gloucestershire Regiment 36195/49751       
Harold W Cooke    2-London Regiment, Royal West Kent Regiment 5870/232723

[CaroleW]

Where and when did he die?

[barryd]

Harold W Cooke    Royal Warwickshire Regiment    131       

This soldier can probably be discounted as that is the lowest number I have ever seen and seems to indicate he was a long service soldier.

[mmm45]

52288 found by Carole is a good shout enlisted in 1916 august discharged with wounds in 1919 aged 20.

Ady