COCKIN, George Bernard

Bernard Cockin was the son of George and Francis Cockin of Melbourne Road, Halesowen. He attended Halesowen C of E school and Halesowen Grammar School and emigrated to Australia in 1912. After the outbreak of war he was an early volunteer for the Australian Infantry and joined the 2nd Battalion. As part of the ANZAC forces they were sent to Gallipoli to assist those troops who had landed in April 1915 and who had not been successful in taking the peninsula. ANZAC troops landed at Suvla Bay on the 6th August and found the enemy tenacious. They were unable to move far from the landings and Private Bernard Cockin was killed in action on the 8th August. He had been in action for only three days and is buried in Lone Pine Cemetery (Special Memorial C 97). He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Australian National, Halesowen, The Earls School and Halesowen C of E school Memorials.