No.18400, Private, Bertram COCKSEDGE
Aged 39
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Bertie Cocksedge was born in Rougham on 22nd March 1879 (2nd qtr Thingoe 4a:576), son of George and Emily COCKSEDGE (née GOODWIN)
1881 census...Aged 2, he was at High Rougham with his father George COCKSEDGE [37] brickmaker; his mother Emily [39]; brothers William [15], Henry [13], John [12], Frederick [10], George [9], Albert [6], Edward [4] and James [ 2 months]. All were born in Rougham. 1891 census...Aged 14 (sic) a farm labourer, he was still at High Rougham with his parents; brothers Henry, John, George, Albert, Edward (all farm labourers) and James; sisters Louise [9] and Rosanna [7]. In 1900 he married Harriett COBBOOLD (Thingoe 4th qtr 1900 4a:1587) 1901 census...Aged 22, a farm labourer, he was at Kings Hall Street, Rougham with his wife Harriett [22] and daughter Lily May [1]. All born in Rougham In 1907 his wife Harriett died. , On 23rd October 1909 in Rougham, he married Susan Mary Ann BULLETT. There were 2 daughters before the marriage, Dorothy Dora BULLETT [28-11-1905] and Dorothy Rose [11-2-1909] . The latter's birth registration not found. 1911 census...Aged 30, a farm labourer, now Bertram Charles Cocksedge, he was at Wyken Cottages, Wyken Green, Stanton with his wife Susan Mary Ann [21] born Hessett; his daughters Lily Violet [11]; Dorothy Rose [9], Dorothy May [5] and their daughter Edith Rose [8 months]. The place of birth of the children not recorded. One of their 2 children had died. They had another daughter, Florence Alice [26-6-1914] On the pension card his widow Susan Mary Ann was at Hall Lane, Hessett. Unfortunately this pension card does not name the children. His brother in law Alfred Benningfield was killed in 1918, their wives were the sisters Edith and Susan Bullett see here More research is necessary to sort out the children. |
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He enlisted in Norwich on 20th January 1915, giving his age as 36 years 9 months, a labourer from North Lopham, near Garboldisham, Norfolk,
born Rougham.
His records are badly burnt but it shows him at Etaples in July 1916, joining 7th Battalion on 29-8-1916. Gunshot wound in abdomen on 9-4-1917, to 19 C.C.S.(Agnez-les-Duisans) on 10th and 18 General Hospital Carniers on 15th April, evacuated to UK via HMHS St.Patrick on 27th April 1917. Returned to France via Folkestone/Boulogne on 28 Sept 1917, base depot Calais 1-10-1917. Joined 7th Bn 4-10-1917 but to Etaples 24 Gen Hospital on 5th (GSW left leg). Returned to unit ? and was wounded again on 27th March 1918. From 28 Field Ambulance he went to Etaples again on 28th March and evacuated to UK that same day. By 2nd August he was back in France and joined the 9th battalion on 13th August, only to be killed in action on 18th September. As well as very damaged documents, they appear to be mixed up with a different soldier's paperwork. The list of children on Army Form 5080 is puzzling but not entirely legible and the dates are missing. Lily Violet, Dorothy Rose,(these 2 with 1st wife) Dorothy Dora, Edith Rose and one other. Only Dorothy Dora is recorded as BULLETT, the rest seem to be COCKSEDGE. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
