Joseph Cockayne
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph was born in Ilkeston in about 1894, the son of Eliza Osborne nee Fowkes later Cockayne. Various civil and military records name Joseph Cockayne as his father although when his mother (Eliza Osborne) completed a form for the army in 1919 naming her late son's surviving blood relatives she wrote 'none' for father although Joseph Cockayne snr. was still living. Joseph Cockayne snr. was the son of Joseph and Harriett Cockayne and was born in Ilkeston in about 1865. In 1891 he was living with his parents on Dukes Street, Ilkeston; he was 24, single and working as a coal miner. In 1901 Joseph (35) described as married and working as a coal miner hewer, was living at 31 Stockwell Road, Bulwell, Nottingham, with Eliza Cockayne (26) b. Cotmanhay, who was also described as married. Also in the household was Joseph Cockayne (6), Joseph's son, and Harriet Cockayne (60) his widowed mother. By 1911 Joseph (45) and Eliza (37) were living at 5 Wilkinson's Row, Bulwell. According to the census record compiled by Joseph as head of household, he was widowed and had two children. There were two children in the household: Joseph Cockayne (16) a pottery worker, and Florence Cockayne (7 b. Bulwell), who were described as his son and daughter. There is a record of the registration of the birth of a Florence Eliza Osborne, mother's maiden name Fowkes, in 1903 (O/N/D Nottingham); Florence was described by her mother in 1919 as her son's full-blood sister, 'Florence Eliza Cockayne'. Eliza, though, was recorded on the 1911 census as Eliza Osborne, marital status deleted, whose occupation was 'housekeeper'. The family was living at 45 Kett (?Kent) Street, Bulwell, when Joseph attested in 1914. There is a record of the registration of the marriage of a Joseph Cockayne to Eliza Osborne in 1933 (J/F/M Nottingham). Joseph died in 1938 (A/M/J Nottingham). Eliza Cockayne was recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register still living at 45 Kett Street, Bulwell; her marital status was widow, and her date of birth was given as 26 December 1873. She probably died in 1954 (O/N/D Nottingham). Joseph's sister Florence Eliza may have married Wilfred Robinson in 1925 (J/A/S Nottingham).
Joseph attested in Nottnighamon 31 August 1914. He was 19 years 303 days old and gave his occupation as a pottery worker (wedger). His next of kin were his mother and father, Eliza and Joseph Cockayne, of 45 Kett Street, Bulwell He was posted on 8 September 1914. He embarked for France on 29 June 1915 and joined his battalion on 15 July. Joseph was killed at Hooge less than a month later on 8 August 1915. He had served a total of 344 days - 302 days home service and 42 days in theatre. His service record notes that he was buried at Sanctuary Wood, but his grave was later lost and he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: 'Hooge'. His mother and father (sic), Eliza and Joseph, were his joint legatees. Joseph's personal possessions comprising one photograph and five letters were returned in December 1915 to 'Mr and Mrs Joseph Cockayne' at 45 Kett Street, Bulwell. The receipt for Joseph's 1914/15 Star was signed by J Cockayne and for the British War and Victory Medals and plaque and scroll by Eliza Osborne.
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