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A family member of George Cooke, Olympic rower and a New Zealand soldier was presented with a certificate and uniquely numbered Olympic pin at a ceremony in Wellington today. The Pin and Certificate recognise George Cookes achievements as an athlete and his place in New Zealand Olympic history. George Campbell Cooke represented New Zealand at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and subsequently served as a Corporal in the Greece and Crete Campaigns of World War II. He was badly wounded during the Battle of Crete in 1941 and he died three days later as a Prisoner of War in Malame Hospital on 23 May 1941. He was buried at a military cemetery near Galatos, Crete. The presentation was made to George Cookes nephew, Alastair Grant of Wellington. George Cooke is survived by his sister Kath Beatson who lives in Motueka. The New Zealand Olympic Committee, together with the Olympians Club of New Zealand, has honoured each of the country's Olympic athletes with a pin emblazoned with the Olympian's unique number. George Cookes memory was also honoured in 2004 as New Zealand athletes prepared to represent their nation at the Athens Olympic Games. The team visited the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Phaleron in Athens to commemorate the sacrifice that George Cooke made in serving his country and to pay its respects to all the New Zealand soldiers buried at the cemetery. New Zealand currently has 1123 Olympians. While more than 80 percent of our nations Olympians have been presented with their pins, there are still those who have not able to be contacted. Of the 43 New Zealand athletes who have participated up to and including the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the next of kin of 22 have been located. Those athletes still to be located are: 2. Henry St Aubyn Murray (Athletics London 1908) 5. George Hill (Athletics Stockholm 1912) 7. George Davidson (Athletics Antwerp 1916) 11. Clarrie Heard (Aquatics Paris 1924) 14. Gwitha Shand (Aquatics Paris 1924) 16. Winifred Kalaugher (Athletics Amsterdam 1928) 18. David Lindsay (Aquatics Amsterdam 1928) 19. Kathleen Miller (Aquatics Amsterdam 1928) 20. Len Moorhouse (Aquatics Amsterdam 1928) 24. Stuart Black (Athletics Los Angeles 1932) 27. Allan Elliott (Athletics Los Angeles 1932) 29. Ron Foubister (Cycling Los Angeles 1932) 30. Delmont Gullery (Rowing Los Angeles 1932) 31. Lawrence Jackson (Rowing Los Angeles 1932) 35. John H. MacDonald (Rowing Los Angeles 1932) 36. Noel Pope (Rowing Los Angeles 1932) 37. Robert Purdie (Boxing Los Angeles 1932) 38. Bert Sandos (Rowing Los Angeles 1932) 40. Bill Savidan (Athletics Los Angeles 1932) 41. John Solomon (Rowing Los Angeles 1932) 43. Harold Thomas (Boxing Los Angeles 1932) Families of Olympians yet to receive their pins, or people who can assist with any contact details for any next of kin are invited to contact Stephen Donnell at the New Zealand Olympic Committee on 04 802 8396 or stephen@olympic.org.nz About George Cooke Military Background Corporal George Campbell Cooke Wellington Company 19th (Wellington) Rifle Battalion 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Army Number 2431 Olympic Background Competed in the Mens Eight at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1932.
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