franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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On Commondale Moor there is a war memorial with two names only on it. These were two young men who tended sheep on the moor. In 1914 they both went to London together and joined the Grenadier Guards.
Robert Leggott lied about his age, he was only 17. He was killed in 1916 on the Somme aged 19 an his bodied never found His name is on the Thiepval Memorial in Flanders.
The other was an olderman and it is he who presents a problem. He was wounded in the head at the Battle of Ypres on 9th July 1916 . He was sent back to England and discharged with a small pension 6th Dec 1916. By 1920 he was dead and the Commondale Stone states died of wounds. The Common War Graves Commission do not have him registered. I am trying to correct this error. I have searched for the death cert of Alfred Cockerill who live with his Step father John Wheldon and his mother Mary Wheldon at Ganiston House Commondale N.Yorks. The only Alf Cockerill aged 31 was registered at Amersham Bucks 1920 3a 710 Q3. Was this our Yorkshireman? With a head shot wound he could have been in a Home in Bucks. His body could have been sent back to Commondale.
This is a life long mystery and I would like to put the matter straight.
My connection with these two young men is that I served in WW2 in the Grenadiers.
Any help will be very welcome.
Franka
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franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Barbara,
Thank you for your reply and most useful guidance.
I hope I can clear up another tragic event of that terrible
war.
Kindest Regards
Franka.
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franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Barbara Thank you again. Once the final piece of the jig saw is in place I will contact the Commonwealth War Grave Commission. I will publish the results here. Thanks again
Franka.
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franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thank you for your help. The following extract is the result of research
In July 1916 the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards were holding trenches near Ypres. They were attacks on both sides of their position resulting in close quarter fighting and shelling. There was also sniper activity. In these actions Alfred Cockerill was wounded in the head. Alf was sent home. Back in UK, he was declare unfit for any futher duty.
And what of poor Alf Cockrill who had joined the Regiment a healthy young man? His head wound had serious damaged him. He now had epilepsy and would never return to the moors. He was one of the many head injuries and shellshock cases places in mental hospitals.
I traced Alf to Buckinghamshire where he died and applied for his death certificate. It revealed that he had been examined by doctors from the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic in London. He had been sent to the Chalfont Colony opened 1894 by The National Society for the Employment of Epileptics, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire. He spent four years there, dying at the Epilepsia Colony on 11th August 1920 of Epilepsy and Meningitis . He had clearly died of war wounds as the Commondale stone stated.
Franka
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franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Yes, Alf was my man. He came from Commondale and his mothe's name was on the certificate. I would think that the body was taken back to Commondale as it was not unusual
to carry coffins in the guardsvan on trains. There is not a central register of burials so I don't know where his grave is.
The CWGC do take a time to answer and sometimes never.
I will see if the Grenadier Guards will take up the case if I am not successful.
Thank You again for your help.
frank (a)
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franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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The search for the grave of Alfred Cockerill still continues.The only place not searched for this WWI casualty is Commondale Church Yard. The records for this church are not held in any County Archives.I have the name of the Vicar but not an address to write too. Does anyone live near Commondale who would be willing to see if this poor man was buried there or give me an address to write to. My email is .
I am doing this work on behalf of the CWGC.
Franka.
Moderator Comment: email address removed to prevent spam and other abuses. Please use secure PM (personal message) system to share email addresses and other personal information. Thank you.
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« Last Edit: Monday 31 August 09 07:58 UTC (UK) by sillgen »
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madpants
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2082
Old Pants for Mum44
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Have you had a reply from the vicar in Commondale? I'm not too far away so could go up and look if you've had no joy from him.
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GREENWELL - Middlesbrough
TURNBULL - Houghton le Spring, Coxhoe, Spennymoor
DEVEY - Pentonville, Stockton, M'bro
MOHAN/HUN - Stockton on Tees
SCRAFTON - Darlington
BROADBENT - Saddleworth, Ashton Under Lyne
HEMSWELL - Grantham, M'bro
SIMPKINS - M'bro
SIMPKIN - Little Wratting, Suffolk
MALLALIEU - Saddleworth, Ashton U L
GOODWIN - Macclesfield Forest
SUTCLIFFE - Heptonstall, Ashton U L
PLIMMER - Pontesbury, Ashton U L
CAMBRIDGE - Goulborne, Ashton U L
SIDDALL - Ashton U L
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franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Dear Babara,
Thank you for your very kind offer. Yes please if you don't mind.
I have tried ringing but get no reply. I have written a letter enclosing the research article about the two Commondale Sheppard boys, asking for help with Alfred resting place. That is about three weeks ago or more ago and no reply.
Alfred's mother was Mary Wheldon. Remarried or born out of wedlock Alfred's logocal resting place is Commondale. If it can be found it will go on the CWGC register.
Again,thank you for any help you can give me in this matter.
Franka
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franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Dear Babara
Have you been able to visit Commondale yet?
I still have had no reply from the Vicar even though I gave him a copy of my article in case he found it interesting for the Church mag.
Best Wishest Franka.
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franka
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 11
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Babara,
Thank you for your message. It was very kind of you to offer and there is no time scale but it would be nice to get a Ya or Na regarding Commondale.
The Grenadier Gazette will soon be put together for this year and details about the case were published last year so a few words of progress would be welcome. The real motive is to complete the CWGC records. Of coures I am prepared for a negative at Commondale and having exploited Bucks I will have no where to go.
Thank you for your kind offer of help. Say Hello to the Vicar.
Kindest regards
Franka
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