COCKS, Richard Alfred
| Service Number: | 2582 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 April 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 22 April 1890 |
| Home Town: | Peterhead, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Largs Bay Primary School |
| Occupation: | Draper |
| Died: | Natural causes (stroke), Peterhead, South Australia, Australia, 5 June 1955, aged 65 years |
| Cemetery: |
AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia Section: KO, Road: 16, Site No: 73 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2582, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2582, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Sep 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2582, 5th Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Adelaide | |
| 28 Feb 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2582, 5th Pioneer Battalion | |
| 22 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Left London HMAS Beltana 2 June 1919 Disembarked 15 July 1919 and discharged in Adelaide 22 August 1919 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ronald Cocks
Richard (Dick) left Adelaide on 21 September 1916 at age 26. He had married his beloved Edith Alice Annie (Doll) Mountifield on 30 October 1915. He commenced service in France on 28 Feb 1917 and remained there until Armistice Day 11 November 1918. His diary written in pencil gives an insight into the horrors on the Western Front but also contains lighter moments, eg. playing football and naked bathing in the Somme. The Pioneer Battalions played a remarkable role supporting our front line troops. On his return to Adelaide they had 3 children and up to June 2016 there have been 57 direct blood relations. We are all thankful that he returned safely. On his return he was employed at the Osborne Power Station and no doubt put to use the skills he had learnt whilst on active service. He was Commodore of Largs Bay Sailing Club and a foundation member of Port Adelaide Bird Society. Unfortunately a stroke cut short his working career in 1954 and he passed away in1955 aged 65 years.
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