Wilfred Cocker
He was a bookbinder's errand boy in 1911.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Wilfred Cocker was born in 1898 at Nottingham, he was the son of John a grinder and Gertrude Cocker née Franks and the brother of John James, Gertrude, Ernest, May, Harry and Leonard Cocker of 8 Lotus Street, St Ann's Nottingham.
His father John was born in 1878 at Sheffield, his mother Gertrude Franks was born in 1880 at Nottingham they were married on 19th April 1897 at St Ann's parish church, they went on to have 8 children, sadly 1 was to die in infancy or early childhood.
In the 1911 census they lived at 4 Queen's Terrace, Lotus Street, St Ann's Well Road Nottingham. John 33yrs is a grinder he is living with his wife Gertrude 31 yrs and their 7 children including Wilfred 13 yrs a bookbinders errand boy.
Private Wilfred Cocker enlisted at Nottingham, he served with the 17th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment, he was killed in action, 3rd September 1916, aged 18, in the attack at Beaumont Hamel, France during the Battle of the Somme, he is buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart
Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 23 September 1916: 'Cocker. Killed in action September 3rd 1916, Private Wilfred Cocker, Sherwood Foresters, age 18, son of John and Gertrude Cocker, 8 Lotus Street.'
Nottingham St Mary parish register (1917), 9 Lotus Street: 'CROCKER [Cocker], Wilfred (son) killed May 1915, William killed 1916.' (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref. PR,6786)
Additional research and information Peter Gillings
Photo of Wilfred Cocker
cocker_wilfred_photo courtesy of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment roll of honour website.
Photo of Wilfred Cocker
cocker_wilfred_grave courtesy of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment roll of honour website.