Lieutenant-Colonel Herb Cook
Lake Superior Regiment

They are commanded by Lieut.-Col. Hebert Cook of Port Arthur, a veteran of the last war and a contractor in civil life. He is quiet, has a mild twinkle in his eye and is possessed of a subtle wit.

(Evening Citizen, 2 May 1941, 2)

Born in Manchester, England on 19 September 1891, Herbert Cook was a construction contractor in Port Arthur, Ontario. During the First World War veteran, he served in France with the 52nd Battalion, which was perpetuated by the Lake Superior Regiment after the war. He assumed in 1938 and mobilized with the battalion in May 1940. An inspection report described him as “A quiet spoken but apparently capable man to whom this battalion, I think, may be safely entrusted.”

The Lake Superiors converted to a motorized infantry battalion in January 1942 and embarked for the United Kingdom that summer. Cook, who had preceded the unit overseas, remained in command until November when he returned to Canada due to ill health. He was replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel Walter T. Ibbott, second-in-command of the Westminster Regiment (Motor). Cook was discharged from the army soon thereafter and resumed construction career.

Cook contested the riding of Port Authur for the Progressive Conservatives in the July 1945 Ontario election. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Keane, who had commanded the Lake Superiors in the Northwest Europe campaign also ran for the party in neighbouring Fort William. Both colonels lost to the CCF incumbents.

Cook died on 18 July 1961.