Dr. Tim Cook, one of Canada’s most distinguished military historians, passed away on 26 October 2025 at the age of just 53, following a courageous 14-year battle with Hodgkin’s disease. His loss is deeply felt across the historical community in Canada and abroad.
The author of 13 acclaimed books, Tim was the authority in the study of Canada’s participation in the First and Second World Wars. A superb researcher and storyteller, he possessed the rare ability to unite scholarly depth with narrative power. His volumes on the First World War — At the Sharp End, Shock Troops, and The Madman and the Butcher — have become standard works, indispensable to anyone seeking to understand Canada at war.
Tim’s achievements were recognized nationally and internationally. He was appointed to the Order of Canada and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and his books garnered multiple literary and historical awards. Beyond his publications, he served with distinction as Director of Research and Chief Historian at the Canadian War Museum, helping to shape public understanding of Canada’s military past.
Above: Tim Cook, the Canadian War Museum's chief historian, has died, the museum announced on Sunday. Photo by Wayne Cuddington /Ottawa Citizen
Equally remarkable was Tim himself. He was unfailingly generous with his time, expertise, and encouragement. Countless researchers, students, and writers benefited from his guidance and mentorship, including this author. His passion for history, his intellectual integrity, and his commitment to accessible, rigorous scholarship set a benchmark for the field.
Dr. Cook leaves behind his wife and three daughters, along with a body of work and a legacy that will endure for decades. His contribution to the study of the First World War — and to Canadian history more broadly — was profound, and his absence will be keenly felt by all who value the craft of careful, humane, and engaging historical writing.
Dr Bill Stewart