258202 Pte. Fred Cocking British Army Royal Army Medical Corps from:Huddersfield My grandfather Fred Cocking was forty one years old at the outbreak of the Second World War but was called up for service in 1941. He lived in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and he was a railway parcels worker. He had considered himself too old to be called up for this conflict but found himself being sent to the Royal Army Medical Corps as a stretcher bearer.
He was initially based in Leeds and used to risk coming home to Huddersfield sometimes without a pass to see his family. He was sent overseas and served in the 8th Army in Africa where he nearly became a prisoner of war.
After service in Africa he found himself in France and Germany before coming home to be demobilised and returning to his job on the railways.
From my memories of him, his service with the Royal Army Medical Corps had done him no harm what so ever and his skin was always bleached brown looking from his time in Africa. His medals were the War Medal, Defence Medal, Africa Star, France and Germany Stars 1939 - 45. He retained his Medical Corps cap badge.
He lived until he was 78 years old and passed away peacefully at home.
|