William Cockayne

Also COKAYNE (Registers of Soldiers' Effects & Medal Roll, Marriage Index and other civil records) William Cockayne was the son of Francis and Elizabeth Cockayne (née Walker). His father was born in Derby and his mother in Nottingham. They were married at Sneinton St Luke on 31 August 1879 and had eleven children of whom seven survived infancy or childhood: Caroline birth registered 1881 (J/F/M) bap. Nottingham St Saviour 6 August 1880 (sic), Francis (Frank) b. 1882, Arthur b. 1886, Charles (Charley) b. 1888, Sarah Elizabeth b. abt 1889, William b. abt. 1893 and Florence (Florrie) b. 1895. Three of the children, Francis, Arthur and Charles, were baptised at Nottingham St Peter on 4 March 1888. In 1881 Elizabeth (21), a silk spinner, and her first child, Caroline, were living in Canal Yard, Canal Street, Nottingham, in the household of a widow, Ann Tucker, also a silk spinner, and her son. However, in 1891 she and Francis (33), a fitter (bicycle maker) were living on Clifton Street, Nottingham, with their five children Caroline, Francis, Arthur, Charles and Sarah. In 1901 Francis, now a mechanical engineer on his own account, and his wife were living at 26 Rancliffe Street, Nottingham, with their seven children, Caroline, and Francis, Arthur and Charles who were all mechanical engineers, presumably working with their father, and Sarah, William and Florence. Also in the household was Elizabeth's widowed mother, Jane Walker. However, according to Arthur's army service record when he enlisted in the Militia in 1902, his father Francis had left the family home and was living off Camden Road, London, while his wife was still living at 26 Rancliffe Road. His sons military records indicate that by the time they enlisted they had probably lost touch with their father whose address was given as either 'not known' or 'London.' Elizabeth, now working as a charwoman, was living with her youngest daughter, Florence, a cardboard box maker, at 9 Lowes Place, Leenside, Nottingham, in 1911. Her two other daughters were married, Caroline to Henry Wheatcroft in 1901 and Sarah Elizabeth to Ernest Gay in 1909 and both were living in Nottingham with their respective families. Francis jnr. was living in Skelmerdale, Lancashire, where he was working as a miner. He was a boarder in the household of another miner and his family, but Francis's wife, Sarah Elizabeth (née Ball, m. Nottingham St Peter 1904), and their two children later joined him and the family settled permanently in Lancashire. Arthur, then a harness maker (Jardine Works, Nottingham), had attested in the Militia (4th Notts & Derby Regiment) in July 1902 transferring from the 1st Bn Notts Rifle Volunteers, but later that year transferred to the Army Service Corps. In 1911 Arthur, a saddler (corporal) ASC, his wife Mary Jane (née Archer m. Woolwich 1908) and their two daughters were living in Woolwich, Kent, where they were still living in 1939. William had already joined the Sherwood Foresters and was serving with the 2nd Battalion in Plymouth, Devon. Charles has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but he joined the Grenadier Guards in July 1912 on a 12 year engagement (3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserve). William married Elizabeth Birch (b. 1896) in 1918 (reg. J/F/M Nottingham, Cokayne). William's three brothers also served in the war. Arthur had been a regular soldier in the Army Service Corps before the war as had Charles who served in the Grenadier Guards (15954 Private). Charles served at home from 12 July 1912 to 18 October 1914 and then with the BEF France from 19 October 1914 to 15 March 1915 (148 days). He was wounded in the foot on 15 March, returned to England on 16 March for treatment and was discharged, 'no longer physically fit for war service,' on 3 June 1916 having served a total of 3 years 327 days. Francis jnr., a miner, who was living in St Helens, first attested on 4 September 1914 (12595 Private, South Lancashire Regiment) but was discharged 'medically unfit' on 17 November 1914. He attested again on 13 February 1915 (24998 Private, 17th (Service) Bn. The Liverpool Regiment), and joined the battalion in Prescot, Lancashire, the same day. However, he was discharged on 22 February, again on the grounds of being medically unfit for war service. It is likely that Francis jnr. had also lost touch with his parents and siblings as when Charles attested in 1912 and named his parents and three brothers as his next of kin he gave his father's address as 'not known (London)' and Francis junior's address as 'not known (Liverpool).' Elizabeth probably died in 1932.