Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Boyns Hedley HOCKING was born in Rupanyup, Victoria on 23rd December, 1887

His parents were William Henry HOCKING & Louisa Elizabeth BAKER

He married Florence Elizabeth Fraser TAYLOR in Victoria in 1917 and had two children, John (Jack) and Jean

He enlisted in the Citizens Military Forces on 31st May, 1940 and re-enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corp on 18th December, 1941 where he was given the rank of Captain

Boyns was Killed in Action in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia while serving on the hospital ship Manunda which was attacked in an air attack by the Japanese forces

He has no known grave and his name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial and the Adelaide River Memorial in the Northern Territory

-------

His children both served during WW2

1. John William HOCKING (SN 13366) Royal Australian Air Force - discharged 6.12.1945

2. Jean Marion HOCKING (SN VF345033 Australian Womens Army Service - discharged 6.3.1946

Darwin was bombed on the 19th of February 1942, when the Imperial Japan Navy invaded Pearl Harbour. One of the victims of the Darwin bombing was Boyns Hedley Hocking. He may only have been a single death, but his life was significant as any and his legacy still lives on.

Born on the 23rd of December 1887, Boyns was raised in Rupanyup by his parents, William Henry and Louisa Elizabeth Hocking. He spent his early school years at Healesville.

However, his family relocated to Melbourne, as his father got offered a higher-paying job. Moving from a rural area to a populated city environment, Boyns had the opportunity for a better education, which he pursued his studies at the University of Melbourne. He then gained his dental degree after a few years of studying and working at Melbourne Dental Hospital.

After moving out of home, Boyns brought his own residence in Hawthorn, and even opened his own dental business. Then In 1917, he married Florence Elizabeth and had two children a few years later, John and Jean. Boyns served with the Red Cross Emergency Service.

Boyns practiced as a dentist for 20 years, before enlisting in the Army on the 30th of May 1940. He originally joined citizen forces, then due to his dental degree and many years of experience, he found he was better suited for the Australian Army Medical Corps. Which he later enlisted to. After a year and 7 months of service on the 18th of December 1941, Boyns was given the rank of Captain. He was then posted for service on the 2/1 Hospital ship HMAHS Manunda located in Darwin Harbour.

After the air raid signal and the distant noise of planes filled the air, chaos began. Boyns was on board the ship during this time, fulfilling his duty of caring for patients. However, Japanese aircraft were destroying ships, buildings and taking lives. One of these ships included the HMAHS Manunda, which Boyns served on. The ship was hit with shrapnel before being hit by a bomb. This caused 12 deaths on board the ship, and 47 serious injuries. Boyns was one of the deaths on board.

Captain Boyns Headley Hocking’s body was never recovered, and he has no known grave. However, his presence remains at the Adelaide River War Cemetery in Northern Territory, where he was given a plaque of remembrance. After his death he was celebrated by his dental peers, the Hawthorn Boy’s Scout’s Association, the Red Cross Emergency Service associates, phonograph society of Victoria and of course his family and close friends. His name was even mentioned in the Newspaper (The Argus), to celebrate his death. Boyns life touched many others, dying at 55 years old he was enriched with a longer life than others. However, his life was cut short by being killed in action among the tragedy of the Darwin bombing.

What was also interesting beyond Boyns grave, is that both of his children pursued their duty in war and served during World War 2. John served in the Airforce while Jean served in the Women’s Army.

From the SA Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize Blog. Completed by a student who travelled to Darwin as a winner of the 2022 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize