COOKSON, Edwin

Edwin Cookson lived in Dudley and was probably among the young men of the 1917 class for enlistment. He was sent to a Training Reserve Battalion and around January 1918 he was posted to the 7th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. They were stationed on the front line close to the old Somme battlefield and on the 21st March they faced the first great German Spring offensive which opened with the Battle of Bapaume. The troops were forced to retreat over the old Somme battlefield and fought bravely at the Somme crossings. They fell back further and were engaged in the defensive battle of Rosi?res on the 27th March. Attempting to prevent further retreat the battalion continued to fight but Private Edwin Cookson was killed in action on the 2nd April. He is commemorated on the Pozi?res and Dudley Memorials.