COOKSON, George

George Cookson was the son of George and Sarah Cookson and was born in 1897 in Amblecote. He attended Wollaston C. of E. School from 1905 when the family lived at 124 Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston. He was then employed at Thomas Webb and Sons at the Dennis Glassworks and enlisted in 1918. He joined the 5th Berkshires who played a very active part in the Advance to Victory from August to November 1918. From the 6th August the Berkshires were involved in the breakout from Amiens and the advance across the old Somme battlefield. George Cookson arrived when they resumed their attack in early September. They captured Nurlu at some cost and worked their way up to the Hindenburg Line. Breaking through this huge defensive fortification represented one of the greatest British victories of the whole war. It had been achieved by the 30th September, but Private George Cookson was killed in action on the 26th. He was 21 years of age and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois, Stourbridge and Wollaston church Memorials.