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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Driver 66645 William Thomas COCKBILL - 103rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery


Killed in Action on Friday July 13th 1917 aged 37

grave for w cockbill

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Dickiebusch New Military Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
25 Aug 1915 in France ~ Alcester
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) January 1915 at Stratford on Avon ~
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
Lankhof Farm, Ypres ~  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

William is listed as being killed in action on 13 Jul 1917, the war diary for that day is transcribed below along with an obiturary from the Stratford Herald on 24 Aug 1917. It appears that William was killed during an enemy artillery barrage.

War Dairy

Lakehof Farm, Ypres 13th: Spoli Bank was heavily shelled from 6.30am to 9.30am with 5.9" and 8" but after that hostile artillery was quieter than usual for the rest of the day.  The following man was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field and devotion to duty. No 41206 Driver H. Thirkell D/103rd Bde. END

Newspaper Obituary

KILLED IN ACTION
DRIVER WILLIAM COCKBILL

Mrs. Cockbill of Seggs Lane, Alcester has received the sad news of the death of her husband, Driver William Cockbill of the R.F.A. In a letter to Mrs. Cockbill the chaplain to the brigade expressed the deep sympathy of them all in the great loss she had sustained, adding that both officers and men spoke with great kindness of driver cocktail and with deep regret at his loss. They all felt that they had lost a friend.

It was something to feel that he had won the liking and respects of his companions and do any funeral took place at a small cemetery just a few miles behind the firing line practically every man in the battery was present to show the last signs of respect. Much sympathy is expressed with Mrs. Cockbill and her family in her bereavement.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
1 Apr 1880 at Alcester 29 Aug 1890 at Alcester
   
Parents Names Abode
George and Mary Ann Cockbill Evesham Street, Alcester
   
Wife & Marriage Date/Place Children & Year of Birth
[Edith] Emma Cockbill nee Styler                               Wilfred George born 16 Nov 1902  |  John Cecil born 25 May 1904
14 Sep 1902 at Alcester Robert Leslie born 14 Sep 1906
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1881 - Gashouse Lane, Alcester 1891 - Labourer
1891 - Eveshaw Street, Alcester 1901 - Bycycle Pedal Maker
1901 - Eveshaw Street, Alcester 1902 - Labourer
1911 - Seggs Lane, Alcester 1911 - Carter at Arrow Mills
1916 - Seggs Lane, Alcester  
 

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