COCK, William Alexander
| Service Number: | 418809 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 June 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Aircrew Holding Units |
| Born: | Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia, 15 July 1912 |
| Home Town: | Essendon, Moonee Valley, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Natural causes, Balwyn, Victoria, Australia, 27 August 1976, aged 64 years |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 19 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Airman Pilot, 418809 | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 418809, Aircrew Holding Units | |
| 29 Oct 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer | |
| 29 Apr 1944: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer | |
| 29 Oct 1945: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant | |
| 3 Dec 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 418809, Aircrew Holding Units | |
| 4 Dec 1945: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, Citation: Flight Lieutenant Cock has completed numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost, courage fortitude and devotion to duty. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Born at Moonee Ponds, Victoria in 1912 to James Cock (1866-1921) and Margaret Ritchie (1869-1950), William Alexander Cock was the youngest of their five children.
His father died just prior to William's ninth birthday. His other siblings then supported his mother, and William continued to live with her in Mount Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds even after his marriage to Jessie Hazel Durham at Scots' Church, Melbourne in 1938. The couple where to have two daughters, Beverley born in 1941 and Judith in 1943.
William Cock was a commercial traveller when he enlisted in the RAAF in June 1942. On 1 May 1943, just two months prior to his second daughter's birth, he embarkerd SS President Monroe at Brisbane for training in Edmonton, Canada. As Pilot Officer Cock he was subsequently posted to the United Kingdon in late 1943.
Following further training in England, he was promoted to Flying Officer in 1944 and assigned to No. 463 Squadron RAAF. He was also attached to No. 83 Squadron of the Royal Air Force as part of the Pathfinder unit which operated as a marker unit for Bomber Command.
During his service as a navigator with the RAAF and RAF, he completed numerous operations against the enemy and displayed the utmost, courage, fortitude and devotion to duty. He was elevated to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in late 1945.
Flight Lieutenant William Cock returned to Australia during October 1945 and was discharged on 4 December 1945, returning to family life in Melbourne. In 1949 he accepted work in Hobart, Tasmania and lived in the Hobart suburb of Taroona before moving back to Melbourne in 1956.
Both his daughters excelled in music and singing, developing successful careers - youngest daughter, Judith Durham AO being internationally acclaimed as the lead singer of the the Australian folk music group the Seekers.
Flight Lieutenant William Alexander Cock DFC died on 27 August 1976 just five months after the passing his wife Jessie.
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