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Pte. Harry Cockerell
British Army 4th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment
from:Tonbridge, kent
Harry Cockerell was born on the 7th of June 1883, in Tonbridge, Kent. Like his father and grandfather before him, he worked as a Cricket Ball Maker. Harry was married to Edith, and they had 4 children aged 5 and under, when he signed up to serve in the 4th Royal West Kent Territorials TF/1687, a day after his 31st birthday on the 8th June 1914.
Harry's War records state that he was a private and his regiment embarked for India on 29th Oct 1914. He was transferred to 1/5 Buffs (East Kent Regiment 6076/242852) on 3rd Oct 1916, and served at Es Sinn and Basra. Harry was wounded in action on 24th Jan 1917, with a gun shot wound to his right tibia and invalided to India, he was later transferred to Edmonton Military Hospital, London, which was one of several hospitals in England given over to the care of wounded soldiers in WW1.
Harry survived his injuries and returned from service to a civilian life once more in Tonbridge. Harry and Edith went on to have two more sons. Harry died aged 64 on 6 Jan 1948, at 64 Barden Road, Tonbridge. Sadly, I didn't know my grandfather, as he had died before I was born. Apart from Harry's war records and a few family photos, all the suffering and hardships Harry and his family had to endure, would be lost forever.
