Today we remember the sacrifices of the Anzac soldiers who fought for, and died for, our country. Olympians are among those that lost their lives for their country. In 1932 George C Cooke represented New Zealand at the tenth Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Cooke went on to become a corporal in the New Zealand the New Zealand Infantry and fought in Greece and Crete. He was involved in numerous attacks upon German troop positions and took two prisoners. Imprisoned in a prisoner of war camp he died from wounds sustained during the fighting in Crete on 23 May 1941. The life and sacrifice made by George was commemorated in 2004 by the New Zealand Olympic Games team in Athens at the Phaleron War Cemetery. Although buried in Crete, his name is inscribed on a marble wall at Phaleron along with other Commonwealth soldiers who fell in these campaigns. This Anzac Day the New Zealand Olympic Committee honours the five New Zealand Olympians lost in service. Anthony F Wilding Olympian #6 Games of the V Olympiad - Stockholm 1912 Tennis Bronze medallist Royal Marines Died France 9 May 1915 Albert E M Rowland Olympian #2 Games of the IV Olympiad London 1908 Athletics Race walking New Zealand Rifle Brigade Died France 23 July 1918 George C Cooke Olympian #25 Games of the X Olympiad Los Angeles 1932 Rowing Eights (Stroke) New Zealand Infantry Died Crete 23 May 1941 Henry S Murray Olympian #1 Games of the IV Olympiad London 1908 Athletics Hurdles Royal New Zealand Air Force Died New Zealand 12 April 1943 David P Lindsay Olympian #18 Games of the IX Olympiad 1928 Amsterdam Swimming Freestyle New Zealand Infantry Died Italy 12 December 1943
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