COCKFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL ROLL OF HONOUR

The Cockfield County School Roll of Honour contains a total of 49 names, 7 staff and 42 old boys.  Of these 9 men, 1 staff member and 8 pupils died in the Great War 1914-1918.  Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice were:

Staff

• Chambers R.W.

Old Boys

• Close J.
• Dowson J.B.
• Gargett G.
• Hood P.
• Kirby B.
• Lee J.
• Wallace R.
• Wood E.

A brief statement is provided below on each of these men.

Norman Wilson Chambers 1889-1916

22/929 Private Norman Wilson Chambers, 22^nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry died of wounds 26 October 1916 and is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, France.[1]  He was 27 years old, born at North Shields and married to Maria Mary (nee Walker).  They lived at Barnard House, Cockfield. [2]  He was an elementary school master employed by Durham County Council.

John James Close 1894 – 1916

32627 Private John James Close, 14^th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 11 December 1916 and is buried in Cambrin churchyard, France.^[3]  He was 22 years old, unmarried and lived with his parents Edward and Annie at Fell View Cottages, Cockfield.  John “Jack” worked as a colliery joiner.

John George Dowson 1899 – 1918

51598 Private John George Dowson, 1^st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action 11 September 1918 and is buried in Honnechy British cemetery, France.[4]  He was 19 years old and unmarried.  His father was Joseph, his mother had died and his step-mother was Kate.  The family lived at Fell View, Cockfield.[5]

George Dowson Gargett 1896 – 1917

35331 Private George Dowson Gargett, 12^th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action 16 June 1917.  He had no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. [6]  He was 21 years old and unmarried.  George lived at 2 Mayfield, Cockfield with his parents Alfred and Annie.  He worked as a coal miner. [7]

Percy Hood 1896-1916

16/323 Private Percy Hood, 16^th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action 1 July 1916 and is buried in Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuile, France.[8]  He was 20 years old and unmarried.  Percy lived at Holly Moor, Cockfield with his grandmother Hannah Hood, his uncle Charles Attwood Hood and his aunt Margaret Attwood Hood.

Bertie Kirby 1893-1918

388253 Private Bertie Kirby, 2^nd (Northumbrian) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps died 1 October 1918 and is buried at Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston, Salonika, Greece.[9]  He was 25 years old and unmarried.  Bertie lived at 7 Mayfield Terrace, Cockfield with his parents Thomas and Annie and worked as a coal miner.[10]

Jeremiah Cameron Lee 1893-1916

 3666 Private Jeremiah Cameron Lee, 6^th battalion, the Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action 1 October 1916 and is buried at Warlencourt British Cemetery, France. ^[11]  He was 23 years old and married to Mary Jane (nee Corner).  They lived at 13 Jubilee Terrace, Evenwood. ^[12] Jeremiah “Jerry” worked as a coal miner.

Robert William Wallace 1895 -1916

 3974 Private Robert William Wallace, 1/6 Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 1 October 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.^[13]  He was 22 years old and unmarried.  He lived with his parents Robert and Margaret Wallace at Front Street Cockfield.  He worked as a coal miner.[14]

Thomas Edgar Wood 1897-1918

277236 Private Thomas Edgar Wood, 1/7^th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 26 March 1918 and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.[15]  He was 20 years old and unmarried. He lived with his parents Robert and Ann Wood at Front Street Cockfield. [16]

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] England & Wales Marriage Index 1916-2005 Vol.10a p.457 and Army Form

[3] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[4] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[5] 1911 census

[6] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[7] 1911 census

[8] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[9] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[10] 1911 census

[11] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[12] CWGC

[13] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[14] 1911 Census

[15] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[16] 1911 Census

Photographs:

Photograph courtesy of Rachel Wood, Cockfield Primary School