No.G/8631, Private, Frederick James COCKLE
Aged 27
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Born in Whepstead (1st qtr 1889 Thingoe 4a:695) son of Frederick and Sarah Rebecca COCKLE (née FARROW)
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at Mickly Green, Whepstead with his father Frederick COCKLE [27] a domestic coachman, born Rede; his mother Sarah R [24];sister Rachel F [3 months]. All except his father born in Whepstead. 1901 census...Aged 12, he was at Hall Lane, Troston with his parents; sisters Rachel [10] and Susan [6]; brothers Alfred [8], William [4] and Victor [1] who was born in Troston. 1911 census...Aged 22 a domestic gardener, he was at The Gardens, Benacre Hall, Wrentham, boarding with gardener Arthur CARWELL. At 12 Churchgate Street, Bury St.Edmunds were his parents; brothers Alfred (gardener) William (houseboy, Victor, Albert G [8] born Stowlangtoft, Arthur H [5] born Woolpit and John C [1] born Bury St.Edmunds. |
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He enlisted in Ashfiord, Kent.
At 11:05 pm on 3rd August "B" Coy went over the parapet, followed by D Coy, the barrage lifting at the same tme. "D" Coy then went through B to take the trench on the left of the strong pot. "D" Coy went rather to the right. "A" Coy were brought up from Reserve and then "C" who consolidated the strong point taken, together with a Coy of R.Es. The Coys then pushed on and when dawn broke it was found that "B Coy was in RATIO TRENCH where 2 blocks had been made; 2/Lt ROUTLEY plus 2 Sussex officers made a recoaissance as far as MOUQET FARM.The Germans attempted a counter-attack from MOUQUET FARM upon whom our Lewis guns were turned with good effect. All the dugouts in the captured trenches were cleared of Germans, the total bag of prisoners amounting to 2 Officers (one of whom wore an iron Cross) plaus 87 OR, chiefly Prussian infantry. About 4 am the enemy started to shell the capturedtrenches.About 11 am the Bn was relived by the 6th R.West Kent. oing back to huts in MARTINSART WOOD. The total casualties were 4 officers wounded, 114 OR killed, wounded or missing. CWGC have 38 of the battalion killed, only 8 with identified graves, the rest named on Thiepval Memorial
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