JAMES ALBERT EDWARD COCKER

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG”: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

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: New Year’s Day, 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 Naval Memorial,

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 for Messrs. Britten and Bannister – Boot and Shoe Manufacturers.

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.

1921   Royal Army Ordnance Depot, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire.

James was 21 years and 5 months old. He was ranked a Stoker for the Royal Navy. He was 1 of 95 men at the Naval Camp.

In 1921, his parents and siblings were at the Cocker family home – 13, Alfred Street, Ipswich.

On Wednesday, 10th March 1926, at Sheerness Register Office, James married Ethel Hester Knowlden Bradd, born 1899, 16, Munster Road, Fulham London – daughter of George Frederick Knowlden, a butcher, of Camberwell, and Jessie Maud Borwick (1st marriage Knowlden nee Jones), of 32, Cromwell Road, West Minster, Kent. Ethel’s parents separated and she lived in St. Pancras, London, with her mother, Jessie and her partner, Frederick John Bradd. In May 1911, Frederick Bradd died. In 1921, Ethel’s mother, Jessie, married John Borwick, of West Minster.

Ethel and James had five children:

Jessie Florence Titania Cocker, born 1927, West Minster.

James Frederick Cocker, born 1930, West Minster.

Ethel Irene Patricia Cocker, born 1931, West Minster.

Mavis Margaret Rose Cocker, born 1934, West Minster.

Charles Harry Cocker, born May 1935, West Minster – died 1940, Ipswich.

Sheerness Times Guardian – Thursday, 10^th September 1936 – HUSBAND RECEIVES NEWS OF WIFE’S DEATH AT SEA – Whilst proceeding to the China Station to serve a commission, Stocker Petty Officer James Cocker received the sad news that his wife, Mrs. Ethel Hester Cocker, had passed away in the County Hospital, Minister, and we understand that he is now on his way home from Aden.

It is extremely doubtful if he will arrive in time for the funeral, which takes place at Queenborough today – Wednesday, 9^th September.

Ethel Cocker, who died on Saturday, 5^th September, was 37 years of age, and resided at 32, Cromwell Road, West Minster, Sheerness. There are also five children living, two sons and three daughters, and much sympathy will go out to James Cocker and family in their great loss.

The funeral service will be conducted by the Reverend Walter Harold Clay, B.A., vicar of

Queenborough, and the interment arrangements are being carried out by Mr. Edward Thomas Kemp, Strode Crescent, Sheerness.

Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser – Saturday, 12^th September 1936 – It is with much regret we announce the death of Mrs. Ethel Hester Cocker, of 32, Cromwell Road, West Minster, who passed away on Saturday at the County Hospital, Minster. She was 37. Her passing is deeply regretted by all who knew her, and much sympathy is extended to the members of the family. The surviving relatives are her husband, Stoker Petty Officer James Albert Edward Cocker, at present serving abroad in H.M. Submarine “Proteus,” at Singapore; and five children of tender years, Jessie, James, Patricia, Marvis and Charles. There are also the parents of the deceased, Mr. and Mrs. J. Borwick.

The funeral took place at the old Churchyard, Queenborough, yesterday. The body rested at the altar rails in the Church whilst the first part of the service was read by the Reverend Walter Harold Clay, B.A. – Vicar, who also performed the committal.

The mourners who attended were: Mr. and Mrs. Borwick, of West Minster, Mr. H. Cocker – brother-in-law, Florence, May, and Irene – sisters-in-law, Mr. J. Gander – brother-in-law, all of Ipswich.

In 1941, Ipswich, James married widow, Kate Emma Nixon (nee Bumstead), an office cleaner, born August 1895, Ipswich, of 3, Jefferies Road, Ipswich.

Kate was first married in 1926, to Charles Percy Nixon. Charles died in 1938, Ipswich, aged 49.

Kate and James

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.