Ernest Cockayne
In 1911 he was a sorter hosiery bleacher.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Ernest was the son of Thomas a general labourer and Jane Cockayne (née Yarnold) of 3 Monsall Street, Nottingham.
His father was born in 1857 in Bramcote, Nottingham, and his mother was born in 1859 in Beeston, Nottingham. They were married in 1881 (Nottingham registration district). They had 10 children but two died in infancy or childhood prior to 1911. Their children were all born in Nottingham and were: Thomas born 1882, George born 1884, Walter born 1886 (killed in action 4/11/1914), Horace born 1890, Wilfred born 1893 (killed in action 26/9/1915), Nellie born 1895, Ernest born 1898 and Edwin born 1900.
On the 1911 census the family was living at 3 Monsall Street, Nottingham. Thomas, a general labourer and Jane lived with their children George and Walter, who were both waiters, Horace and Wilfred who were both hosiery bleachers, Nellie, a machinist and Ernest a sorter bleacher. Edwin was at school. Their eldest son Thomas had married and was living at 3 Ellen Terrace Wilton Road Nottingham with his wife Annie Cockayne (née Brown) whom he married in 1909 (reg. Nottingham). Thomas' brother-in-law, Simeon Brown, also died in the war (Sherwood Foresters, 31 October 1916); see record on this Roll of Honour.
2/5th Bn Leicestershire Regiment
Ernest enlisted on 29th May 1916 aged 18 years and 105 days. He gave his occupation as trimmer. The following day, 30th May, he was placed into the Reserves.
He was mobilised on 5th July 1916 and posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on 8th July 1916.
He embarked from Folkstone on 19th July 1917 to join the British Expeditionary Force, landing at Boulogne the following day.
He was killed in action on 28th September 1917, having served for 1 year and 86 days. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
His brother Walter enlisted in Nottingham and was a serving soldier serving with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards when the Great War broke out.
He was with his battalion when it landed on 7th October 1914 at Zeebrugge to form part of the British Expeditionary Force. Walter was wounded in action and died at the German Hospital at Werwick on 4th November 1914. He is buried at Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery Belgium (grave ref. 4.D.12)
A further brother Wilfred served in France from 10 July 1915.He was reported missing in September 1915 but his death was not confirmed until June 1916; his date of death officially accepted as 26 September 1915.
Wilfred has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial (Panels 46-49).
He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Research Peter Gillings
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 24 October 1917: ‘Cockayne. In memory of our dear son, Ernest Cockayne, signaller, killed in action, September 26th, 1917, aged 19. Also of Wilfred, killed in action September 26th 1915, and Walter, who died of wounds, November 4th, 1914. True brothers in life; united in death. From sorrowing dad, mother, brothers, & sister.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Ernest Cockayne
Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. (www.cwgc.org)