Z-Cockburn-Gilbert

Gilbert Cockburn 1898 – 1918

Family Details:

Gilbert was born in Batley Carr in 1893 and baptised at Holy Trinity, Batley Carr on 20th June 1894, the son of John Cockburn (Robson) and his wife Clara Kershaw (nee Lister).The couple had married St. Mark’s Church, Dewsbury on 25th December 1890 when he gave his father’s name as George Robson whose occupation was a yarn dyer.

Ernest was born in 1891 followed by Gilbert, Willie (1897) and Elsie (1904).

Gilbert attended the Church Schools in Batley Carr and was a choir boy at St. Mark’s Church. In 1911 the family was living at 44, Wood Hill, Dewsbury in a 2 roomed home and Gilbert was working as a piecener. Before 1918 the family had moved to 17, Hirst’s Yards, Beckett Road, Batley Carr. Gilbert worked at Marshall, Kaye and Marshall’s mill at Ravensthorpe before he enlisted.

Service Details:

Gilbert enlisted in May 1915 and served in the Dardanelles, where he contracted enteric fever, Egypt and France. He was wounded in France and returned home but returned to his unit in February 1918.

On the 10th October 1918 the regiment was at Haynecourt, Naves. On the 11th the command of the battalion was taken over by Captain E.D. Stansfield before a meeting which decided that the attack on the enemy would be resumed the following morning with the objective being the railway line. At 10.45 am on the 12th a message was received to the effect that the enemy was withdrawing on the right and at 11.10am the battalion moved off in artillery formation to follow them. This was to reduce casualties from the shelling. They were near Avesnes-le-Sec and there was heavy shelling.

His Captain wrote:-

“Your son was killed in action on the 12th October. At the time he was killed he was doing his duty splendidly, as his company was advancing”

His brother, Willie, had been discharged from the army.

In the Dewsbury Reporter of 9th November 1918

COBURN- In ever loving memory of Sgt. Gilbert Coburn, West Yorks. who was killed in the great advance on October 12th 1918.
The stars come nightly in the sky,
The tidal wave unto the sea,
Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,
Can keep my own away from me.
Sadly missed by Norah.

There is a photograph at Holy Trinity which indicates some connection to Miss N. Caine of Cross Bank, Batley.

Gilbert was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is remembered with Honour at Holy Trinity Church, Batley Carr and Dewsbury War Memorial.

Researched by
Members of Batley History Group