COBBOLD, William


No.17770, Private, William COBBOLD
Aged 40


1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on/since 8th May 1915


William Cobbold was born in Bradfield St George (1st qtr 1876 Thingoe 4a:550) son of William and Sarah Elizabeth COBBOLD (née GILL). Baptised in St George's, Bradfield St George on 3rd June 1877.

1881 census...Aged 5, he was at Free Wood Street, Bradfield St George with his father William COBBOLD [34] farm labourer; his mother Sarah [37] born Rougham; brothers Charley [9] born Hessett, Alfred [3] and Freddy [3 months]both born Bradfield St George; sister Elizabeth [7] born Bradfield St George and hlaf sister Emma GILL [14] born Rougham before William and Sarah married

1891 census...Aged 15, a groom, he was at Free Wood Street still, with his parents; brothers Alfred, Freddy and Arthur [2]; sisters Annie [7] and Lillie [5].

1901 census...Aged 25 he was in the Army in South Africa in the 2nd Bn, Rifle Brigade No.4478. His parents were still at Free Wood (father now a road foreman) with his sister Elizabeth [27] now Mrs HUMPHREYS and her children, Doretha [7] and Frederick both born SW London.

He married Alberta Phyllis WILLINGHAM [31-7-1879] in St.Mary's Rougham in 1909

1911 census...Aged 35 he was at Kings Hall Green, Bradfield St George with his wife Phyllis [31] born Rougham, and their daughter Annie Dorothy born Bradfield St George on 31st December 1909

His eldest brother Charles died from fever in the the Boer War in 1900 see here
brother Frederick was killed in Belgium in April 1915. see here
and brother Arthur died in Greece in 1916. see here


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds in the Rifle Brigade, No.4478 ( from his number probably 1896)and he was with the 2nd battalion in the Sudan in 1898 and in South Africa 1901-1902. When he enlisted in 1914 it was in the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment

His medals are the Sudan medal for the expedition to Khartoum in 1898, Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Relief of Ladysmoith, Laings Nek and Belfast, King's South Africa medal with clasps for 1901 and 1902, 1914-1915 Star, British War medal and Defence Medal



William Cobbold is commemorated on the menin Gate, Ypres panel 21

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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