No. 59478, Lance Corporal, Ben HANCOCK
Aged 19
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Ben Hancock was born in Swaffham Prior in 1899 (Newmarket Q2-1899 3B:535), son of Arthur and Matilda HANCOCK (née OSBOURNE).
1901 census...Aged 2, he was at Stephenson's Farm, North End, Exning, with his father Arthur HANCOCK [36] farm foreman, born Great Swaffham; his mother Matilda [31], born Lode; sister Elizabeth [5] born Lode, brother Jack [2] born Great Swaffham and Arthur [2 months] born Exning. Great Swaffham was another name for Swaffham Prior. 1911 census...Aged 11, he was at Breach Farm, Ness Road, Burwell with his parents, brothers Jack (farm labourer), Arthur, and William [8], Edward [5] and Bertram [2]. All three new brothers were born in Exning. To confuse the unwary, the Great Swaffham births in the previous census are now changed to Swaffham Bulbeck which was not known as Great Swaffham His parents were later at The Yews, High Street, Burwell. |
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Residing at Burwell, he enlisted in Cambridge.
The 6th Northants were involved in their final battle on 4th November 1918 at Preux at the Forest of Mormal, where the Division made it's final advance of the war before the Armistice on 11th November 1918 found them in billets at Le Cateau. War Diary:- 02:00 A,B & C Coys left EPINETTE FARM at 02:)) and arrived at forming up ground (by the straight road , which was not there in 1918) in A.13.b.(Sh 57a NW) 1-20,000. The north and south barrage opened to time and D Coy attacked due East with Royal West Kents on left and no one on right.D Coy advanced to a N - S line running throughA.14.b.8.8. at 07:30 and consolidated. A Coy following 100 yds in rear, leapfrogged D Coy and carried on due E and consolidated on a line A.15.d.2.8 to A.15.b.3.9. This line was taken at 08:15. The whole attack from Sunken Road covering a distance of exactly 1 mile. C Coy following A Coy in two lines of platoons in worm formation some 70 yards in rear also leapfrogged D Coy and carried on to the point of the wood at A.15.a.4.0 They then worked their way down SE on edge of wood to A.15.c.8.5. A very large percentage of the enemy captured were wounded. The 53rd Infantry Brigade carrying on (see map), captured the area in Blue 2 and 3 and consolidated on the Red line. The 55th Infantry Brigade passing through them did not encounter the enemy for 2,000 yds or so. At 15:00 the Coys re-organised and arranged their battle position facing east in case of a counter attack from the enemy. The cookers were brought up and the men made themselves as comfortable as they could for the night. Battalion HQ ws established at A..26.a.7.9.(just SW of Preux au Bois). Casualties during this operation were 3 officers wounded and O.Rs 15 Killed, 96 wounded, 1 missing. They had 20 men killed that day according to CWGC but their figures will always count in those who died that day from their wounds or the missing who were later found to be dead.. |
Area of operations for 6th Northants 4th November 1918
photo: Rodney Gibson
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