Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
• The Third Anglo-Afghan War 1919, Afghanistan.

Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.

Detail :

William Godfrey Charles Cockaday was born on 5 February 1872. Serving 22 years in the ranks of the Royal Field Artillery, he attained the rank of Serjeant-Major in December 1908. He was commissioned a Lieutenant (District Officer) in 1912. Serving in the Great War, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 15th October 1914, and in March 1915 was appointed a Temporary Captain. For his wartime services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 19th October, 1916) and awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 23 November 1916). He was promoted to Captain in December 1919 and Major in April 1923. He retired on 6 February 1927.

The notice of his death appeared in the Yarmouth Independent 3rd April, 1937. "The death took place suddenly at Gorleston Hospital on Thursday week of Major William Godfrey Charles Cockaday, M.C., Royal Artillery, of 177, Southtown Road. Major Cockaday, who was 55, was the youngest son of the late John Cockaday, Royal Artillery, and younger brother of the late Lt.-Col. G.L. Cockaday, M.V.O., Royal Artillery. His army service extended over a period of 41 years, 27 of which were spent in India. He was a well-known Freemason and Worshipful Past Master in 1907. He left India with the 1st Indian Expeditionary Force in September, 1914, for France. In December, 1915, he left France for Mesopotamia, where he served till the end of the War. Major Cockaday also served in the Afghan War in 1919, and on the North West Frontier till 1922. He was mentioned in despatches in 1914, and again in 1915, when he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in bringing up ammunition to guns in action under intense fire. He retired from the service in 1927, with the rank of Major. The funeral took place with semi-military honours on Tuesday in Gorleston Cemetery, following a service at the Parish Church conducted by the Rev. F. G. Hansford. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was borne into the church between ranks of ex-officers and men of the Gorleston and Southtown branch of the British Legion. Major Cockaday's cap and sword and decorations were carried by his nephew, Mr. Jack Cockaday. These decorations included the Croix de Guerre avec etoile, Royal Artillery...."

His son, Trumpeter Aubrey George Cockaday, 25th Brigade R.F.A., entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 16 August 1914. As such, for his services in the first months of the war he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 9 December 1914). He was later commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the R.F.A. (London Gazette 13 July 1918). Whilst serving with the 10th Battery, 147th Brigade R.F.A., he died of wounds on 31 October 1918, aged 21 years. He was buried in the Ramillies British Cemetery.

For his service across the empire he was awarded the military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Capt., R.F.A.); Coronation 1911, silver; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (53342 B.Q.M. Sjt., R.F.A.). These medals and others in an entire family group were sold at auction £1100-£1300 in 2008, by Dix Noonan & Webb.

Masonic :

William is Listed as a Quarter Master Sergeant in both Mayo Lodge and St. Johns Lodge at Secunderabad where he was initiated into the former and joined the latter.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley