COCKAYNE, Thomas Francis
| Service Numbers: | 38056, V80525 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 April 1917, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12 Garrison Battalion (Vic) |
| Born: | Willinborough, England, 16 September 1884 |
| Home Town: | Newtown, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Civil Servant / Dairy Farmer |
| Died: | 25 May 1950, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Newtown All Saints Church Honour Roll, Victorian Garden of Remembrance |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Apr 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 38056, Field Artillery Brigades, Melbourne, Vic. | |
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| 9 Nov 1917: | Embarked Gunner, 38056, Field Artillery Brigades, HMAT Port Sydney, Melbourne | |
| 9 Nov 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 38056, Field Artillery Brigades, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' |
World War 2 Service
| 2 Oct 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V80525, 12 Garrison Battalion (Vic), Geelong, Vic. |
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Help us honour Thomas Francis Cockayne's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Charles COCKAYNE and Elizabeth nee ROBINSON
Husband of Mrs Beatrix Evelyn COCKAYNE nee McLEOD, Cootamundra’ West Melbourne Road (now Shannon Avenue), Newtown, Geelong, Victoria
When he enrolled in militia in 1932, he said he was born in 1894. This would probably because he would not be too old to enlist.
Fought in the Boer War and Navue Rebellion and married Evelyn who was nursing in South Africa.
Thomas enlisted for WW1 on 24 April 1917, aged 32 years 7 months, stating his occupation as a civil servant. Thomas was appointed to Field Artillery Brigade 31st Reinforcements as a Gunner. Also on his Enlistment Form he stated he served in South Africa in the Boer War for in excess of 21 months.
Thomas embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Port Sydney on 9 November 1917. After stopping in Alexandria Egypt, he disembarked in Southampton on 5 January 1918. Arriving in France on 21 March 1918, Thomas served as a Gunner in 4th and 11th Field Artillery Brigade.
Thomas was wounded in action suffering Gas Poisoning on 19 October 1918 and subsequently transferred to England later that month to hospitals in Weymouth and Dartford. On 19 December 1918, Thomas was transferred back to Australia on the ship Argyleshire, arriving 1 February 1919 and discharged on 16 February 1919.
Thomas re-enlisted for service in Australia in WW2 on 2/10/1939, in Geelong. Thomas served until 21 March 1944 serving in Bonegilla and Broadmeadows Victoria
At one stage he owned a post office agency and also worked as Head Horse handler for the Polar Ice Company