COKER, Allan Oswald
| Service Number: | 1842 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 February 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Gawler Plains, South Australia, 20 December 1879 |
| Home Town: | Salisbury, Salisbury, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Salisbury Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 29 July 1918, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette Plot 1, Row C, Grave 1, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Salisbury & District Roll of Honour, Salisbury Eternal Flame Honour Board, Smithfield Honor Roll WW1, Smithfield War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1842, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1842, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Apr 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1842, 5th Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Adelaide | |
| 29 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1842, 5th Pioneer Battalion, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front" |
Help us honour Allan Oswald Coker's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Allan’s father Wiliam jnr, was born in Wickham-Bishops, Essex England in 1836.
William’s father was also William and was born 4th July 1800 in Wickham-Bishops.
William senior married Sarah Hopgood (b.1808) and the whole family came to South Australia on the Rajasthan in 1838. William senior died in 1869 and is buried in Salisbury.
William junior became a pioneer land owner, farmer, mason and dairyman of the area.
They lived at Salisbury, Para Plains.
He married Hannah Susannah Martin on 13 November 1857 at Gawler Town.
Hannah’s father was George Martin of Gawler.
William and Hannah had 13 children, all born at Gawler Plains.
1. William b. 23 Oct 1858
2. James b. 21 Jan 1860
3. Hedley James b. 19 June 1861 – d. 1935
4. Frederick William b. 20 May 1863
5. Albert Edward b. 8 June 1865
6. Martha b. 21 June 1867
7. Letita b. 16 May 1869
8. Alfred Ernest b. 3 July 1871
9. Lilian b. 4 April 1873
10. Sarah May b. 1 June 1875 – d. 23/6/1934 Salisbury
11. Arthur Herbert b. 7 Dec 1877
12. Allan Oswald b. 20 Dec 1879
13. Elliott Lindon b. 7 Dec 1884 – d. 20/2/1910 Broken Hill
William jnr died 9/12/1910 75yr and Hannah in 28/2/1912 75yrs in Salisbury.
Allan attended the Salisbury Primary School. He was a farmer.
Prior to enlisting Alan was closely associated with the Congregational Church and connected to the Literacy Society, Rifle and Cricket clubs. It is said he was held in high esteem by his many friends.
RELATIVES in force:
Nephew: Sgt 2858 Joseph William BLAKE, Australian Army Postal Corps
– son of Allan’s sister Martha BLAKE and Joseph William BLAKE snr
Nephew: Private 1673 Herbert Wiliam COKER 27th Battalion (b. 8/1/1893)
- son of Hedley James COKER and Grace COKER (nee McNicol)
Allan was described as: 35 years of age; 5’ 7 ¾” tall; 136 lbs; fresh complexion; grey eyes; dark hair; Congregational.
31/12/1915 completed medical in Adelaide, South Australia
29/2/1916 enlisted into WWI in Adelaide, South Australia
15/3/1916 appointed to Base Light Horse, Exhibition Camp
23/3/1916 appointed to 2nd 5th Pioneer
11/04/1916 embarked from Adelaide onboard HMAT A60 Aeneas
as a Private with 5th Pioneer Battalion
16/5/1916 disembarked into Suez, Egypt
21/6/1916 embarked onboard HT Ivernia to join British Expeditionary Forces, ex Alexandria
29/6/1916 disembarked into Marseilles, France
31/8/1916 arrived into Etaples, France
12/9/1916 contracted mumps and influenza
21/9/1916 discharged to unit and fought throughout the Western Front
2-12/9/1917 on leave in France
29/07/1918 killed in action, Morlancourt, France
Buried in: Beacon British Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, France
Plot 1, Row C, Grave 1
Buried by: Chaplain Harwood
His name is commemorated on:
- Panel 174 of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
- Family grave at Salisbury (Saint John the Evangelist) Church of England Cemetery, Church Street, Salisbury
- His name is on the Salisbury reserve, at the corner of Memorial Avenue and Orange Avenue
- Smithfield War Memorial
Medals: British War Medal (36093); Victory Medal (35820); Memorial Plaque and Scroll (348377)
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan 21/07/2019. Lest we forget.
Biography contributed by Modbury High School
After Allan Coker's death, his belongings were passed on to his sister Martha Blake. They were from the field wallet, photos, cards, two diaries, dictionary, watch, silk handkerchief and note case from his kitbag in storage- 1 razor, soap, hairbrush, and gloves.
His brother Hedley James had no objections to his sister Martha having Allan’s medals (British War Medal, Victory Medal) as he was a commercial traveller and away from home a great deal of the time. In his will Allan had left his real and personal estate to his brother Hedley and to Edwin John Marrett of Prospect in trust for his sister Sarah May Coker. If she predeceased him then all was to be divided equally between all of his nieces and nephews.
Click images to start slideshow.