Month: October 2016

✟ ≠ 2/Lt 12 Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own) attached 11 Bn East York’s Reg’t. He first served as a 2/Lt with the London Regiment and joined the 12 Bn “Teesside Pioneers” in a draft of replacements in October 1917 at Moislains. Despite being a pioneer unit 2/Lt Bocking and the battalion were in the thick of the fighting at Bourlon Wood in late 1917 and during the enemy spring offensive of early 1918, where they fought on the river Lys. The break-up of the 12th battalion began on May 5th when 2/Lt Bocking and other officers and men were returned to the base depot at Calais to be redeployed. He was then attached to the 11 Bn of the East Yorkshire Regiment and was killed in action with them on 21/8/1918 at the age of 20. He fell in bitter fighting for the Outtersteene Ridge not far from Bailleul. Bernard Bocking’s grave can be seen today in Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension three miles south west of Bailleul, Pas de Calais. In August 1918 he was awarded MC for gallantry and devotion to duty. He died only three days before his younger brother John Webb was killed. He is also remembered at St Lawrence Church, Gnosall Staffs.  His obituary and picture appeared in the Staffordshire Advertiser 7/9/1918.  b1898 Fenton, Staffs, and brother of John Webb, Selwyn George and William James, below. Third son of John Child Bocking b1866 Abney, and Mrs Sarah Bocking. His father who attended Cambridge and in 1911C was at Gnosall, Staffs, the Parish vicar, was the illegitimate son of Tobias Child, (of Furness House, Hathersage, now called Hawthorne Dene), the Victoria Works owner, and Mary Bocking, b 1846 Abney. Mary was sister to George Bocking b 1830, father to William and grandfather to William ‘Billy’ Bocking, who were the Clerks to Hathersage Parish Council, from its formation in 1894 until 1937. Billy had the corner shop opposite the Little John Hotel on Station Road, Hathersage.

ß Щ Although listed on the Bible Class Board, research has failed to come up with anything conclusive on any military records. He was b 1881 in Castleton and 1911C he was in Sheffield, a general labourer. (Played Cricket for Castleton; DC 2/8/1913 and also for Hathersage).

Gnr 151187 RGA. Gassed and wounded twice. b Sutton in Ashfield 1897. 1911C a milk delivery boy staying with his Aunt in, Menston Yorks. His sister Edith b 1904, and brother John b1907, both born in Hathersage.

17556 Pte  20 Service Bn Manchester Regt. (DC 15/2/1919, Soldiers who have received their discharge papers this week; Farrier John Blagden, Manchester Regt). b 1886 Hathersage. A blacksmith, worked at Derwent Water Board and lived at 1 Oddfellows Row, Hathersage and later Station Road, Hathersage. Brother of Thomas b 1877 who went to Canada with George, above, b1879. Arthur b 1883, (d 1957 and buried in Hathersage Churchyard), Samuel b 1890 and Esther Eliza b 1895 who married Frederick Sleath, below.

Served 6½ years with the York & Lancs and fought in South Africa in the Boer War.  Then in WW1; enlisted 3/12/195 in Canadian Infantry, 144 Bn Winnipeg Rifles; Pte 829602. He arrived in England aboard the S.S. Olympic on 25/9/1916 and promoted A/Sgt at Witley Camp, Surrey. 15/11/1916 he was suffering badly from Myalgia and was recommended 6 weeks Physical Training! On 9/1/1917 he was sent back from England to Canada on leave, and never returned, so was classified as a ‘deserter’ on 3/3/1917, but this was later rescinded as he had been retained in Canada and discharged on compassionate  grounds on 25/4/1917.

b Oct 1879 Oddfellows Row, Hathersage. Parents Thomas b 1854 at Edensor, & Mary (Broomhead?) b 1859 at Hathersage.  By 1914 he was in Lavenham, Manitoba, Canada. He married Lily Hounam in Canada (Benjamin Thompson’s cousin, see below). He was brother of Thomas b 1877 (who also went to Canada), Arthur b 1883 (d 1957 and buried in Hathersage Churchyard), John William below, b1886, Samuel b 1890 and sister Esther Eliza b 1895, who married Frederick Sleath below.

Pte DM2/075583 RASC.  b 1872 Sheffield. 1911C at Walkley, a tool striker. His daughter, Constance b 1904 Hathersage. Only in the village for a short time (possibly worked in the needle factories?)

21102 Pte Ox & Bucks Light Infantry. b 1897 Hathersage, by 1901C (& in 1911C) living in Tunstall Staffs, with twin brother Charlie above. Their Mother, Teresa was born in Bamford c 1877. Father (also Harry) was born in Tunstall, Staffs.

b 1897 Hathersage, by 1901C (&in 1911C) in Tunstall, Staffs. Twin brother to Harry below. Their Mother; Teresa was born in Bamford c 1877, father Harry, was born in Tunstall, Staffs.  Military uncertain, his grandson believes he was in Belgium and remembers medals that he had.  Probably enlisted under Charles and could have been in the Royal Artillery.

1911 joined the Navy SS 110945, but invalided out in 1917, re-enlisted in the Tank Corps. b 1891 Sheffield. 1901C, at Oak View Boarding School, Hathersage. 1911C living at Sheffield.

Sgt R E 562315. b Sheffield, in 1911C in Pendleton, Lancs., an engineer’s fitter. Stepson of Francis Crossland Wright, b Hathersage 1853 who in 1911C was a cab driver in Pendleton.