The Roll of Honour, Volume 1 : A biographical record of all members of His…
1914. On the morning of 13 Oct. he was wounded, but he fought gallantly
5393 words | Chapter 45
and refused to give in, and officers present at the time spoke with
great praise of his bravery. Later the same day he was killed by a
shell. Major Cliff was a keen sportsman, and played frequently for the
Yorkshire Gentlemen, of which cricket club he was a member for many
years; he was also a regular follower of the Bramham Moor, York and
Ainsty, and Lord Middleton’s hounds. He _m._ at Walton-on-Thames,
Mary Alice, dau. of Arnold Trinder, of River House, Walton-on-Thames,
and had a son, Anthony Dewhirst, _b._ 15 Aug. 1913.
[Illustration: =Herbert Theodore Cliff.=]
=CLIFF, WALTER=, A.B. (R.F.R. A. 3958), 144621, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=CLIFFE, NICKOLAS HENRY=, Private, No. 14700, Fort Garry Horse,
attd. 10th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late
William Cliff, of Fleece Inn, Preston, Publican, by his wife, Alice,
dau. of John Burton; _b._ Preston, co. Lancaster, 15 July, 1881;
enlisted in the Loyal North Lancashire Regt. at the time of the South
African War, and served through that campaign, afterwards going to
Canada and settling in Winnipeg. After the outbreak of the European
War he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Sept. 1914, and was
killed in action at Festubert, 22 May, 1915; _unm._
=CLIFFORD= (formerly =WILLIAMS=), =ANTHONY CLIFFORD=,
B.A., M.B., B.C., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Lieut., Reserve of Officers,
3rd Dragoon Guards, yst. _s._ of the late Rev. Henry Williams.
M.A., C.M.S. Missionary in India, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of the
Rev. John Bryant Clifford, Vicar of St. Matthew’s, Kingsdown, Bristol;
_b._ Bristol, 13 July, 1888; educ. St. Oswald’s School, Clifton,
and Marlborough; went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1900, when he
took the name of Clifford. He belonged to the University O.T.C., and
after taking his B.A. degree, went to Guy’s Hospital in 1909, where
he took his M.B., and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Reserve of Officers, 18
May, 1912. At the outbreak of war he had just qualified as a doctor,
but was called up for active service; was attached to the 3rd Dragoon
Guards; went to the Front as a machine-gun officer in May, and was
killed in action at Hooge, 2 June, 1915. He was remounting his gun in
a new position after the first position had been blown in, when he was
shot through the head and killed instantly. Buried in the annexe of the
churchyard at Vlamertinghe. Trooper W. Spencer in a letter home wrote:
“A hundred shells fell in twenty minutes around our left Maxim gun.
Lieut. Clifford timed them as cool as a cucumber, with his watch in his
hand. This brave officer lost his life later in the day. Our officers
worked like heroes. They were Capt. Holt and Lieut. Clifford.”
[Illustration: =Anthony C. Clifford.=]
=CLIFTON, FREDERICK CHARLES=, E.R.A., 4th Class, 272033, H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=CLIFTON, HAROLD NORTON=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards, yr. _s._ of William Edward Clifton, of 7, East India
Avenue, London, E.C., Architect and Surveyor, and 12, Cambridge Square,
Hyde Park, London, W., Fellow of the Royal Institute of British
Architects and of the Surveyors’ Institution, by his wife, Isabel, dau.
of the late James Nelson, of Carlisle; _b._ 32, Ashley Gardens,
Westminster, 7 May, 1894; educ. St. Peter’s Court, Broadstairs, and
Harrow; joined the Artists’ Rifles in 1913, and went with the Corps
to France in Oct. 1914, as a Corpl., obtaining a commission in the
Coldstream Guards, 1 Jan. 1915. He was severely wounded at Cuinchy,
near La Bassée, 25 Jan. 1915, and died of his wounds in a German field
hospital, 1 Feb. following, and was buried at Billy Berclau, near La
Bassée; _unm._ At Harrow, 2nd Lieut. Clifton was in the Sixth
Form, a school monitor, head of his house (Druries), a member of the
football eleven, captain of the swimming and middle-weight boxer for
the school for two years, competing in the Public Schools Competition
at Aldershot. He was also a member of the Richmond Football Club.
[Illustration: =Harold Norton Clifton.=]
=CLIFTON, HERBERT PERCIVILLE=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B.
4555), S.S. 103666, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel,
on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=CLIFTON, THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 2938, H.M.S. Cressy; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=CLINTON, RICHARD=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 296947, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=CLOSE, MAX ARTHUR=, Lieut., 1st Battn. Highland L.I., elder
_s._ of George Arthur Close, of Westbury, East Finchley, N.
by his wife, Sarah, dau. of the late William Swift, of Smethwick,
Staffordshire; _b._ Stroud Green, co. Middlesex, 14 Sept. 1889;
educ. Christ’s College, Finchley, and afterwards in France and Germany.
He joined the 1st Battn. Artists’ Rifles in 1908, and on the outbreak
of the war, volunteering for foreign service, was sent to France in
Oct. 1914. He did his probationary work in the 2nd Border Regt. at
Ypres in Nov. 1914, and was gazetted to the 1st Battn. Highland L.I.,
1 Jan. 1915, and promoted Lieut. While gallantly leading his platoon
in an attack from Neuve Chapelle on 12 March, 1915, he was hit in
the head, and died shortly afterwards. He was buried outside the
trenches, south-east of Neuve Chapelle; _unm._ Col. E. R. Hill,
officer commanding 1st Highland L.I., wrote: “In him we mourn one
more of those gallant fellows who responded so promptly to the call
of duty and set an example to the country.” Lieut.-Col. H. A. R. May,
officer commanding Artists’ Rifles, also wrote: “Your son unswervingly
persisted in carrying out what he conceived to be his duty. He
splendidly upheld all the best traditions of the British Army, and
he won the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His name will
always be remembered by us with pride.”
[Illustration: =Max Arthur Close.=]
=CLOUGH, ALEXANDER JAMES=, Chief Stoker, 291102, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=CLOUGH, THOMAS WOODHEAD=, Private, No. 2017, C. Coy. 14th
Battn. (London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of
Thomas Woodhead Lister Clough, of 8, Marsfield Terrace, West Bowling,
Bradford, co. Yorks, retired Milk Dealer, by his wife, Alice (died
17 Feb. 1914), dau. of William (and Martha) Downes; _b._ West
Bowling, 31 Dec. 1887; educ. Marshfield School, where he gained
certificates entitling him to give lessons in shorthand, typing, etc.;
and after serving 7 years with Messrs. Wright and Morgan, solicitors,
Bradford and Shipley, secured an important position in their London
Office. He had joined the Manchester Territorials, 15 Jan. 1912,
and was transferred to the London Scottish, 31 Jan. 1914. On the
outbreak of war the London Scottish at once volunteered for foreign
service and were the first Territorial Force to go into action. In a
letter to his father dated 30 Oct. (found subsequent to his death and
forwarded 18 Nov.) he wrote: “Our regt. are now in the firing line.
We joined it here yesterday. The big guns of the Germans are banging
away whilst I am writing this letter. Sir John French has just sent
for us. Good-bye. Don’t worry. Love to all. Your affectionate Son,
Thomas.” He was mortally wounded in the great charge of the London
Scottish at Messines, France, 31 Oct. 1914, and died at the 1st
London General Hospital, St. Gabriel College, Camberwell, S.E., from
gunshot wound in the groin, Sunday, 18 Nov. following, and was buried
in Camberwell Borough Cemetery; _unm._ Lieut.-Col. Malcolm,
commanding the London Scottish, wrote to Private Clough’s father: “No
commanding officer could have had under his command a braver or more
gallant soldier than your son, who so nobly gave his life for his
country.” On this occasion F.M. Sir John French telegraphed to Col.
Malcolm: “I wish you and your splendid, splendid regt. to accept my
warmest congratulations and thanks for the fine work you did yesterday
at Messines. You have given a glorious lead and example to all
Territorial troops who are going to fight in France,” and in forwarding
it Major-General E. H. Allenby, G.O.C. Cavalry Corps, wrote: “The
behaviour of officers and men of the London Scottish was worthy of the
best traditions of British Regular troops. Only their steadiness and
courage saved a situation that was as difficult and critical to deal
with as will ever occur.”
[Illustration: =Thomas W. Clough.=]
=CLOUGHLEY, JOSEPH ERNEST=, Private, No. 47828, 15th Battn. (48th
Canadian Highlanders), Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of
Thomas Henry Cloughley, of Barrie, Ontario, Canada; _b._ Colwell,
Ontario, 31 March, 1893; enlisted in the 37th Battn. at Barrie in Dec.
1914; was transferred to the 17th Battn., on landing in England in
June, and on 17 July was drafted to the 15th Battn. and sent to the
Front. He died in No. 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, 6 Nov.,
1915, of wounds received in action. A comrade in writing home spoke of
him as “such a brave, courageous fellow, ever found willing and ready
to render assistance whenever necessary.”
[Illustration: =Joseph E. Cloughley.=]
=CLOVER, REGINALD WILLIAM=, A.B. (R.F.R. B. 6552), 202676, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=CLUBLEY, IRIS=, 1st Class, K. 9588, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that
ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=CLUTTERBUCK, HENRY=, Capt., 1st Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regt., eldest _s._ of the late James Jacques Clutterbuck, of
Hampton Lovett, Droitwich, formerly of Gloucester, by his wife,
Elizabeth Anna, dau. of Rudolph Appell; _b._ Chacewater, Cornwall,
23 Jan. 1874; educ. King Edward’s School, Birmingham; enlisted in the
Coldstream Guards, 28 July, 1893, became L.-Corpl. 22 June, 1894;
Corpl. 22 May, 1896; L.-Sergt. 12 Dec. 1896; Sergt. 1 Dec. 1897, and
Orderly Room Sergt. 1 Dec. 1897. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the
Yorkshire L.I. 25 Aug. 1900, and was promoted Lieut. 23 Nov. 1901, and
Capt. in the Royal Lancashire Regt. 20 Nov. 1907. He served in the
South African War, 1899–1902, being attached to the Army Service Corps
from 1 June, 1901. He took part in the advance on Kimberley, including
the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein. He
was present during the operations in the Orange Free State, including
those at Paardeberg (17–26 Feb.), and the actions at Poplar Grove,
Driefontein, Karee Siding, Vet River (5–6 May) and Zand River. He was
also in the operations in the Transvaal, May to Sept. 1900, and from
Nov. 1900 to May, 1902, and received the Queen’s medal with six clasps
and the King’s medal with two clasps. Capt. Clutterbuck was Adjutant
to the King’s Own Malta Regt. from 20 June, 1904, to 9 July, 1909, and
afterwards served in India, interesting himself in the welfare of the
soldiers, and in encouraging temperance and thrift among them, and was
commended by the Commander-in-Chief of India for his work. He was to
have taken up the appointment of Garrison Adjutant at Bordon, 1 Oct.
1914, but on the outbreak of war, left for France, 21 Aug. and was
killed in action at Haucourt, France, between Le Cateau and Cambray,
26 Aug. 1914, and was buried in the cemetery there. Capt. Clutterbuck
was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s despatch of 21 Aug.
[London Gazette, 19 Oct.], 1914, “for his conspicuous bravery under
heavy shell fire, and his gallantry in leading bayonet charges.” A
brother officer wrote: “On the fateful 20 Aug., Capt. Clutterbuck, Mr.
........ and self were in a village, and about 8.30 p.m. about 150
Germans made a night attack on us. Just when the attack was starting
Capt. Clutterbuck came up with about 50 men to help, as things looked
bad. Capt. Clutterbuck then performed an act of great gallantry; he
personally led 15 men with Mr. ........ to drive about 50 of the
Germans away from a church where our wounded were. They called upon
Capt. Clutterbuck to surrender; he would not, and I am afraid was then
instantaneously killed. He had absolutely no suffering and his body
was taken into the church.... This act of Capt. Clutterbuck’s was most
gallant, he would not entertain anybody else doing the noble work which
he did, thereby saving the lives of most of us....” Another officer
wrote: “I thought perhaps you might care to hear from me, as I was with
your husband the whole of the first day. He and I lay under very heavy
shell fire, with about 100 men, for the whole morning and afternoon,
and it was entirely through his influence that we kept the men together
at all. After dark we went down to a village in order to turn some
Germans out with about 30 men, which was all we could collect. We met
them there in force, your husband ordered and led a charge against
them which was so successful and well led by him that we cleared the
village. He was shot leading us against a party a great deal stronger
than our lot, who were at one end of a street. Throughout the day he
was perfectly marvellous and cheerful in the worst times, and the
men have since told me when talking about it, that his coolness and
gallantry in leading charges in the street fighting was extraordinary.
Of course, he was exactly the sort of officer who has made our regt. as
famous as it is.” He _m._ at Valletta, Malta, 27 April, 1908, Cora
Gwendoline Rajaela, yst. dau. of the late Gerard Myburgh, of Orange
Grove, Cape Town, Consul-General for the Netherlands in South Africa;
_s.p._
[Illustration: =Henry Clutterbuck.=]
=COARD, HENRY HAROLD=, Private, No. 13245, B Coy., 1st Battn.
King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., 2nd _s._ of John Henry Coard, Postman,
Raheney, co. Dublin, by his wife, Annie, dau. of the late Henry Moore,
of Dundrum, Dublin; _b._ Raheney, co. Dublin, 2 April, 1889; educ.
Howth Road School, Clontarf; was foreman gardener to the Earl of Mar
and Kellie at Alloa Park, but on the outbreak of war left and joined
the Colours, 1 Sept. 1914; went to the Front in January, 1915, took
part in the fighting at Neuve Chapelle and Hill 60 and the first and
second Battles at Ypres, and was killed in action during the latter,
near Hooge, 8 May, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Henry Harold Coard.=]
=COATES, GEORGE BERNARD=, Private, No. 148, 5th Battn. 2nd
Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, eldest _s._ of George
Coates, of Sproatley, near Hull, Gardener; by his wife, Eleanor, dau.
of W. Mason, of Hull; _b._ Wyton, Hull, East Yorkshire, 12 May,
1891; educ. Sproatley Endowed School; was for some time in the Halifax
Territorials; went to Australia 6 June, 1913; joined the Australian
Imperial Force at Melbourne on the outbreak of war and was wounded in
the left arm at the landing at Suvla Bay on 25 April, 1915. He was
invalided to Malta, but returned to the firing line about the end of
July, and was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 9–10 Aug., 1915;
_unm._
=COATSWORTH, EDGAR=, Corpl., No. 8058, B. Coy., 2nd Battn. Royal
Sussex Regt., 2nd _s._ of Arthur Thomas Coatsworth, of 20, Earl
Street, Maidstone, a Corpl. in the National Reserve Guard; _b._
Maidstone, 5 Aug. 1887; educ. St. Faith’s Schools there; enlisted 16
Aug. 1904, and after serving seven years with the Colours, passed into
the Reserve and became a postman at Marden, Kent. He was called up on
the outbreak of war; was promoted Corpl. early in Jan. 1915; went to
France and was killed in action at Richebourg l’Avoué, 9 May, 1915. His
Coy. Sergt.-Major in a letter of sympathy to his wife said that he was
killed whilst gallantly leading his men in the attack on the enemy’s
trenches, and added “he was a great favourite of all the men of his
platoon, who speak very highly of his conduct when under a very heavy
shell fire.” He _m._ at St. Faith’s Church, Maidstone, 17 March
(--), dau. of William Cummings, and had two children: Edgar, _b._
5 July, 1912, and Marian, _b._ 21 Aug. 1913.
=COBB, ARTHUR VICTOR JUBILEE=, Signal Boy, J. 24845, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=COBB, JOHN WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 1345), 206567,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of
Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=COBBETT, ALBERT=, A.B., J. 14137, Devonport, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=COBBOLD, ROBERT HENRY WANKLYN=, Lieut., 6th. attd. 2nd. Battn.
(The Prince Consort’s Own) Rifle Brigade, eldest _s._ of the
Rev. Robert Russell Cobbold, M.A., Rector of Hitcham, Ipswich, by his
wife, Mary Elizabeth, dau. of the late Frederick Wanklyn, of Buenos
Aires, and gdson. of the late Rev. Robert Henry Cobbold, Rector of
Ross; _b._ Earl’s Barton Vicarage, co. Northampton, 3 Dec 1892;
educ. King’s College Choir School, Marlborough College (Foundation
Scholar and Junior Scholar), and at St. John’s College, Cambridge
(Classical Scholar). At Cambridge he took an active part in the work
of the O.T.C., and on the outbreak of war was given a commission in
the Rifle Brigade, 7 Nov. 1914, to date from 14 Aug. To quote the
“Eagle,” vol. xxxvi, Dec. 1914: “At the beginning of the term the task
was a formidable one. There was plenty of enthusiasm, but very little
experience--a mass of untrained material. But in R. H. W. Cobbold A
Coy. had an almost ideal O.T.C. officer. The work which he did for the
month before his knee got strong enough for him to take a commission
in the Rifle Brigade was absolutely invaluable. When he went the most
difficult part of the task was over.” He was promoted Lieut. 19 Dec.
following; went to the Front, 13 May, 1915, where he was attached to
the 2nd Battn. and appointed machine gun officer, and was killed in
action near Fleurbaix, 9 Sept. 1915; _unm._ Major-Gen. H. Hudson,
commanding 8th Division, wrote: “Your son had done excellent work
whilst serving in this division, and was a most promising officer. You
have every reason to be proud of his gallantry and devotion to duty.”
And Lieut.-Col. F. Nugent, commanding 2nd Rifle Brigade: “Your boy was
machine gun officer to this battn., and I had a special opportunity
of knowing what a splendid fellow he was. Absolutely fearless, and a
really fine leader of men. His machine gunners loved him, and would
have followed him anywhere. A really good machine gun officer like him
is rare.” At Cambridge he rowed in his college first boat.
[Illustration: =Robert H. W. Cobbold.=]
=COBBY, WILLIAM ARTHUR=, E.R.A., 3rd Class, 271735, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=COBERN, WESLEY VINCENT=, Private, No. 8502, 3rd Rifle Brigade,
3rd _s._ of Thomas William Cobern, of 72, Parchment Street,
Winchester, Merchant Tailor, by his wife, Agnes Eliza, dau. of George
Drew; _b._ Winchester, 6 May, 1883; educ. Wesleyan Day School
there; joined the 3rd Rifle Brigade, 27 June, 1901; and on the outbreak
of war went out to France with the first Expeditionary Force. On the
night of 17–18 Oct. 1914, the 3rd Rifle Brigade were billeted at a
school near Armentières. On the early morning of 18 Oct. they were
preparing breakfast when bugle sounded “Stand to Arms” at 5.30 a.m.
The attack on a village called Prehencies commenced at 6. The railway
from Armentières to Lille had to be crossed near Le Halte Station.
Cobern was shot in the left arm, almost at the same time Sergt. Smith
was shot in the head. He threw off his equipment and helped to bandage
the Sergt.’s wound. Remembering that he had a scarf in his valise
that would be useful, he went to where his equipment was lying on the
railway, and was shot dead. He was buried with many others of the regt.
who fell at the same time by the 139th Saxon Regt. of the German Army.
There were 600 casualties on that day in the 3rd Rifle Brigade alone.
His brother, L.-Corpl. W. G. Cobern died on active service, 13 June,
1915 (see following notice).
[Illustration: =Wesley Vincent Cobern.=]
=COBERN, WILFRID GEORGE=, Corpl., No. 2570, 4th Battn. Hampshire
Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Thomas William Cobern, of 72,
Parchment Street, Winchester, Merchant Tailor, etc. (see preceding
notice); _b._ Winchester, 1 Sept. 1878; educ. Wesleyan Day School
there; served for over 10 years in the 1st Volunteer Battn. of the
Hampshire Regt., and on the outbreak of the war joined the 4th Battn.
of the Hants Regt. for foreign service, 6 Aug. 1914. He died of heat
stroke at Basra, in the Persian Gulf, 13 June, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Wilfrid George Cobern.=]
=COCHRAN, LIONEL FRANCIS ABINGDON=, Capt., 72nd, attd. 92nd,
Punjabis, Indian Army, 2nd _s._ of the late Col. Francis Cochran,
1st Hampshire Regt., who was Deputy Judge-Advocate under the late
Lord St. Helier (then Sir Francis Jeune) during the South African
war, by his wife, Amy Isabel Gray, eldest dau. of Abingdon Compton,
Bombay Civil Service, and gdson. of Francis Cochran, of Balfour;
_b._ Edinburgh, 20 March, 1882; educ. by private tutors and in
Germany, where he was when the Boer war broke out. He joined the 3rd
(Militia) Battn. Leinster Regt. at Queenstown when only 17 in Feb.
1900, and, proceeding with it to South Africa, served on the lines of
communications, being twice given responsible posts and a commission
from Lord Roberts in the Worcester Regt., and the Queen’s medal with
three clasps. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 5 Jan. 1901, and promoted
Lieut. 21 Dec. following, and after being first attached to the 1st
Hants Regt., was transferred in 1901 to the Indian Army. He joined
the 72nd Punjabis in Burmah, became double company officer, 7 July,
1905, received his company 17 Nov. 1909, and served with them until
Sept. 1914, when he was selected to proceed with the 92nd Punjabis on
Active Service. They were sent to guard the canal at Ismailia, and
Capt. Cochran was killed in action while leading his men at Tussum on
the Suez Canal, 4 Feb. 1915. He was buried at Ismailia; _unm._ He
was specially mentioned in Gen. Sir John Maxwell’s Despatch of 16 Feb.
1915 [London Gazette, 21 June, 1916]. The officers of the 72nd Punjabis
erected a mural tablet to his memory in St. Mary Bolton’s Church, S.W.,
and the officers of the 92nd Punjabis put up a cross and stone on his
grave at Ismailia. Capt. Cochran was a great traveller, having gone
nearly all over the world during his leave, and an expert motorist;
also he was a fine horseman. He several times filled the appointment
of Station Staff Officer and Cantonment Magistrate in India with great
credit.
[Illustration: =Lionel Francis A. Cochran.=]
=COCHRANE, CHARLES=, Private, No. 11101, 2nd Battn. Cameron
Highlanders, _s._ of William Cochrane; _b._ South Shields,
21 April, 1889; educ. Drummond Street School, Edinburgh; was a
Hairdresser; volunteered and enlisted 4 Sept. 1914, went to France
in April, and died of wounds received in action at Neuve Chapelle 11
May, 1915. He _m._ 3 June, 1900, Catherine (2, Blackfriars St.,
Edinburgh), dau. of Owen Airlie, of 49, Drummond Street, Edinburgh, and
had a son and three daus.: Francis, _b._ 24 May, 1906; Mary Jane,
_b._ 8 April, 1901; Agnes, _b._ 10 Feb. 1910; and Maria,
_b._ 3 May, 1911.
=COCKAYNE, WALTER=, Officer’s Cook, 3rd Class, L. 4215, H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=COCKBURN, CHARLES JAMES=, Lieut., 6th Jats L.I., Indian Army, yr.
_s._ of the late Major Charles James Cockburn, Royal Warwickshire
Regt., by his wife, Kate Alice (Bagshot, Surrey), dau. of the late John
Waterer; _b._ Malta, 27 March, 1891; educ. Wellington College;
gazetted 2nd Lieut., 3 Sept. 1910; was attd. to the Berkshire Regt.
in India, and was transferred to the Indian Army, 29 Oct. 1911, and
promoted Lieut. 3 Dec. 1912. He served in France with the Meerut
Division, and afterwards in Mesopotamia, and was killed in action with
General Aylmer’s Relief Force, 7 Jan. 1916. Lieut. Cockburn was amongst
the first to receive the Military Cross. He _m._ at Cobham, Kent,
16 July, 1915, Helen, dau. of Laman Herbert Evans; _s.p._ His
elder brother, Lieut J. Cockburn, was killed in action, 25 April, 1915.
[Illustration: =Charles James Cockburn.=]
=COCKBURN, JOHN=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Royal Warwickshire
Regt., elder _s._ of the late Major Charles James Cockburn,
Royal Warwickshire Regt., by his wife, Kate Alice (Bagshot, Surrey),
dau. of the late John Waterer, of Bagshot; _b._ Malta, 3 March,
1890; educ. Wellington College. On the outbreak of war volunteered
as a Despatch Rider, and was given a commission as 2nd Lieut. in his
father’s old regt. 3 March, 1915. He was killed while leading his men
into action at St. Julien, near Ypres; _unm._
=COCKER, EDGAR CHARLES=, Private, No. 81163, 10th (late 32nd)
Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldest _s._ of Edgar Charles
Cocker, of Lintlaw, via Margo, Sask., Canada, Farmer and Stonemason,
now Private, No. 887330, 188th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force
(who served thirteen years with the 4th East Surrey Volunteers before
leaving England), by his wife, Alice Jane, dau. of the late Charles
Collier, of Homerton, London; _b._ Peckham, London, 9 Oct. 1895;
educ. Peckham Park School, S.E.; Beachville, Ontario; and Yorkton,
Sask.; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war, and
enlisted, 7 Sept. 1914; left Canada with the second contingent, 22
Feb. 1915; went to France, 27 April, and was killed in action in the
front line trench at Festubert on the morning of 21 May, 1915, by the
bursting of a shell; _unm._ He was buried behind the trench close
to where the second line trench crosses the head of Willow Road, and a
cross marks the spot.
[Illustration: =Edgar Charles Cocker.=]
=COCKMAN, GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 9045, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COCKRILL, ARTHUR=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 9255), S.S. 2208, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct.
1914; _m._
=COCKS, ALBERT=, Sapper, No. 75, 2nd Signal Coy. (Headquarters
Section), Royal Canadian Engineers, 4th _s._ of James Cocks, of
Bexley Heath, Kent, formerly of Chenies, Builder (who was seven years
with the 36th (now 18th) Middlesex Regt.); _b._ Putney, co.
Surrey, 12 Dec. 1876; educ. Chenies, Rickmansworth, Herts, and was a
Decorator. He joined the R.E. in 1900, and was attached to the 57th
Field Coy. at Chatham, and won the Education (2nd class) Certificate,
but after serving three years retired through ill-health. In 1910
went to Ottawa, Canada. There he joined the Governor-General’s Foot
Guards, but afterwards transferred to the Canadian Engineers, and was
attached to the 3rd Field Coy. When the European War broke out in Aug.
1914, he immediately volunteered for service overseas and joined the
2nd Divisional Signal Royal Canadian Engineers, and obtained the Army
Signalling Certificate. He left for England with the second contingent
in May, 1915, and was stationed at Shorncliffe till Sept. They were
ordered to proceed to France on 8 Sept., and on the 4th of the month
he was given leave to wish his relatives in London good-bye. At 8.30
p.m. the same day he was knocked down by a motor car at the corner
of Parliament Street, Westminster, receiving a fractured skull and
internal injuries. He was taken to Westminster Hospital, where he died
after three operations, 21 Sept. 1915. He was buried at Kensal Green
in the Canadian Government part. His commanding officer wrote: “His
work with me was of the very best. He had proved a very valuable man,
the like of whom our Empire could not afford to lose.” He _m._ at
Christ Church, Ottawa, 3 June, 1914, Lillian, formerly of Toronto, dau.
of the late Henry Hodges Weller; _s.p._
[Illustration: =Albert Cocks.=]
=CODD, HARRY CARR=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./17530, H.M.S. Cressy;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=CODLING, ALFRED INCH=, A.B., 219051, Devonport, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=COE, BARNABAS WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 1150),
276443, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=COE, HERBERT CLYDE=, Leading Cook’s Mate, M. 20, H.M.S.
Pathfinder, lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=COHEN, GEORGE HUBERT=, B.A., LL.B., Lieut 5th King’s Liverpool
Regt. (T.F.), 3rd _s._ of Alderman Louis Samuel Cohen, of The
Priory, St. Michael’s Hamlet, Liverpool, J.P., an ex-Lord Mayor of
Liverpool, by his wife, May, dau. of the Hon. Louis Wolfe Levy, M.L.C.,
Sydney, N.S.W.; _b._ Liverpool, 26 Jan. 1878; educ. Cheltenham
and Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he graduated with honours B.A.,
LL.B., in 1901. He was called to the Bar in 1903, and practised law
in Liverpool in the Northern Circuit, and was a member of the Inner
Temple. He had always been a keen Volunteer, having been a sergt.
both in the Cadet Corps at Cheltenham College and in the C.V.R.U. at
Cambridge, and was for many years in the Inns of Court O.T.C., and
gained the Long Service medal. On the outbreak of war he was travelling
in Norway, and hastened to England and immediately enlisted in the
Public Schools Battn. of the Middlesex Regt., but within a week he was
given (19 Sept. 1914) a Lieut.’s commission in the 5th Battn. King’s
Liverpool Regt., in which his brother, Stanley, was Major. He went to
France, Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Festubert, 16 May, 1915;
_unm._ His colonel, J. M. McMaster, wrote: “He died as glorious a
death as any soldier could ever wish for or hope for, gallantly leading
his men in a charge against the enemy’s trenches. It was a difficult
and dangerous task, but he and his men went to the assault in the way
we expect British soldiers to act, without fear or hesitation. We mourn
his loss and respect his memory. His disposition was kindliness itself,
and he had thoroughly endeared himself to us all. We took the German
trench and more than 120 prisoners surrendered to us. Your son lies
buried in all honour near the field of battle at Richebourg L’Avoué.
I am sorry to say that Stanley (his yr. brother, Major, now (1916)
Lieut.-Col. S. Cohen) incurred a wound, which I hope and believe is
only slight, in voluntarily going out in the attempt to reach George
and succour him. Capt. Fairclough, on the same errand of mercy, was
also wounded.”
=COKE, HON. ARTHUR GEORGE=, Lieut., R.N.V.R., Armoured Cars
Division, 2nd _s._ of Thomas William, 3rd Earl of Leicester,
G.C.V.O., C.M.G., by his wife, the Hon. Alice Emily, née White, dau. of
Luke, 2nd Lord Annaly; _b._ London, 6 April, 1882; educ. H.M.S.
Britannia; joined the Navy, 1897, and retired with the rank of Lieut.
after some six years’ service. On the outbreak of the war he obtained
a commission of 2nd Lieut. in the 2nd County of London Yeomanry
(Westminster Dragoons), 5 Sept. 1914, but was almost immediately
transferred to the Royal Horse Guards, and served with that regt. in
Flanders, including the first Battle of Ypres, until he was transferred
as Lieut. to the Armoured Cars Division, R.N.V.R., in Jan. 1915. He
was killed In action at the Dardanelles, 2 May, 1915. He _m._ in
London, 10 May, 1906, Phyllis Hermione (Flaunden, Chesham, Bucks), only
dau. of Francis Saxham E. Drury, of Pont Street, London, and had a son
and dau.: Anthony Lovel, _b._ 14 Sept. 1909; and Deana Muriel,
_b._ 7 Nov. 1907.
=COKE, FREDERICK=, A.B., 239092, H.M.S. Arethusa; killed in action
in the Heligoland Bight, 28 Aug. 1914.
=COKER, CADWALLADER JOHN=, Lieut., 1st Welsh Regt., yr. _s._
of the late James Gould Coker, by his wife, Florence Emily (The Grove,
Mayfield Sussex), 2nd dau. of Cotterill Scholefield; _b._ Somerset
Place, Bath, 11 May, 1892; educ. Wellington College and Oriel College,
Oxford; and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 1st Welsh Regt. 15 Sept.
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