No.18126, Private, Reginald John COUSENS
Aged 22
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Reginald John Cousens was born in Cockfield, (2nd qtr 1894 Cosford 4a:721), son of John Thomas and Caroline COUSENS (née BALDWIN).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Pepper's Hall, Cockfield with his father John T. COUSENS [52] farmer, born Lindsey; his mother Caroline [43]; sisters Constance M. [21] born Lindsey and Edith M. [16]; brother Thomas H. [9]. All except his father and sister Constance were born in Cockfield. An elder sister, Evelyn [b. 1881], had married and emigrated to Canada. 1911 census...Aged 17, he was at Pepper's Hall with his widowed mother (father had died in 1906); sister Edith Mabel and brother Thomas Harold Barclay ( farm manager). In 1915, under his father's will, Pepper's Hall (£4,000), Windsor Green Farm , Cockfield (£1,250) and Common Farm, Chelsworth (£735) were offered for sale. It seems as if the family decided to retain Pepper's Hall. Reginald and his brother were running the farm when the war broke out. They applied for exemption from military service at a tribunal but the tribunal Chairman decided that both could not be exempted and found for Thomas. Reginald was refused extra time in order to sell livestock or assist his brother in taking over the farm. |
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He attested on 21st January 1916 in Lavenham, placed on Reserves and was mobilised in Bury St. Edmunds on 20th April 1916 as 2633 3rd Suffolk Yeomanry. He gave his age as 21
years 10 months, a farmer from Pepper's Hall, Cockfield. He was 5 feet 7.25 inches tall, chest 35 to 37 inches, weighing 140 lbs, next of kin was his mother.
He embarked Folkestone 27th August 1916 to Boulogne, joined No.15 I.B.D. 28th and was posted to 4th Bn Suffolk Regt. Transferred to 7th Bn, R.W.Kent Regt 7th September and re-numbered. Died from wounds at No.3 C.C.S.(Puchevillers) on 5th October. His personal possessions returned to his mother were :- Identity disc, pendant, 7 photos, fountain pen, 1 letter, 1 metal ring, 2 booklets, wrist strap, card on musketry, pair scissors, insurance card, wallet, watch (broken) and strap. Army form 5080 (living blood relatives has his mother and brother at Pepper's Hall, Cockfield, sister Constance married and in New Zealand, sister Evelyn married and in Canada, sister Edith Mabel, single, at Pepper's Hall, Cockfield. No record found of where he was or when he was wounded, but his battalion were fighting for the Schwaben Redoubt at Thiepval, overlooking the River Ancre, during the first week of October 1916.
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