JAMES ALBERT EDWARD COCKER
Image courtesy of Sharon Simpson
“Here is a picture of James Cocker my grandfather, I got this from a recent visit home to my mum ( his only living child now)” 2017
Born: 1st January 1900, Ipswich.
Died: 13th June 1944; age: 44; MPK.
Enlistment Details: First enlisted 1918 (medal entitlement list) Location: Chatham; Date: 6th January 1919 – signed up for 12 years; Occupation: Mate on a Barge. Height: 5ft 6ins, fresh complexion, brown eyes & brown hair. Tattooed both forearms, 2nd finger on left hand, and 3rd finger on the right hand.
Service:
Vulcan, Stoker II Torpedo Boat Depot Ship 1918
Pembroke II – Stoker II – 6th January 1919 (shore base)
Pembroke II – acting Stoker I – 17th January 1919 – 20th March 1919
Emperor of India – acting Stoker I – 21st March 1919
Emperor of India – Stoker I – 15th June 1919 – 19th November 1920
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 20th November 1920 – 23rd January 1921
Commonwealth – Stoker I – 24th January 1921 – 9th April 1921
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 10th April 1921 – 23rd January 1924
Marlborough – Stoker I – 24th January 1924 – 4th February 1924
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 5th February 1924 – 14th April 1924
Dolphin – Stoker I – 15th April 1924 – 8th May 1924
Vulcan – Stoker I – 9th May 1924 – 16th September 1924
Vulcan – Stoker I – 17th September 1924 – 2nd October 1924
Vulcan – Stoker I – 3rd October 1924 – 14th November 1924
Vulcan – Stoker I – 15th November 1924 – 26th October 1925
Dolphin – Stoker I – 27th October 1925 – 12th November 1925
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 13th November 1925 – 31st March 1925
Dolphin – Stoker I – 1st April 1926 – 15th September 1926
Castor – Stoker I – 16th September 1926 – 4th November 1926
Titania – Stoker I – 5th November 1926 – 9th December 1926.
Character – Very Good.
Rank: Stoker Petty Officer; Service Number: C/K55218.
Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M.S.’Boadicea.’
Memorial Reference:
77.2.
Chatham,
Kent.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of James & Florence Cocker; husband of Kate Cocker, of Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 18, Alfred Street, Ipswich.
James was a year old and living with his parents & siblings.
James Cocker, 30, a Boot & Shoe Clicker, born Colchester, Essex.
Florence Mary Virginia Cocker (nee Richardson), 25, born Ipswich.
May Florence Ann Cocker, 4, born Ipswich.
1911 13, Alfred Street, Ipswich.
James was 10 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
James, 38, a Shoemaker – Shoe Factory.
Florence, 36.
Florence, 13, worked at a Sweet Factory.
Mary Ann Florence Cocker, 8, born Ipswich.
Thomas Harry Cocker, 7, born Ipswich.
Ethel Mabel Cocker, 3, born Ipswich.
Frederick George Cocker, 7 months, born Ipswich – died 1911, Ipswich.
In 1941, Ipswich, James married Kate Emma Nixon (nee Bumstead), born August 1895, Ipswich, of 3, Jefferies Road, Ipswich.
13th June 1944
H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’ was a B class Destroyer. Built by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. (Hebburn-on-Tyne, U.K.). Ordered 4th March 1929, laid down 11th July 1929, launched 23rd September 1930 and commissioned 7th April 1931. In 1944, H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’ (Lieutenant Commander Frederick William Hawkins) was in the English Channel preparing to support the Normandy landings in ‘Operation Neptune.’ On the 6th June H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’ escorted 31 tank landing ships of the 8th Armoured Brigade. Arriving on the 7th in the Western Tank Force area. She was returning on the 13th June to Milford Haven for more escorting duties, when she was attacked by a single German Junker 88 aircraft, 12 nautical miles south-west of Portland Bill, Dorset. She was hit in the forward magazine causing an explosion. H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’ went down in 3 minutes. 170 crew lost their lives 12 were rescued and given vast quantities of rum.
Extra information on H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’ courtesy of John Hawkins son of Lieutenant Commander Frederick William Hawkins, RN.
Note: His son , the late “Jimmy Cocker” also served in the R.N. & loyal member of the R.N.A. and used to talk proudly about his Dad, quite rightly too. R.I.P. shipmate . (Ipswich Royal Naval Association.)
Mrs Jo Brockman.
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