Lance Corporal 203918 Charles Edward Hockey

Killed in Action on Wednesday, 8th August 1917, age 30.
Commemorated on Panel 37 and 39 of Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

'B' Company of 1st/4th Bn., Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. 145th Brigade of 48th Division.
Formerly 27706 Hussars of the Line and 35533 Ox & Bucks Light Infantry.

Born: Lambeth, Surrey, Enlisted: Aylesbury, Bucks, Resident: Unknown.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1614358/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Charles Edward Hockey registered June quarter 1887 in Lambeth, London.

1901 Census
Cannot trace.

1911 Census
8 Junction Road, Woodhouse, Sheffield, Yorkshire.
Boarding with James and Mary Ann Jackson was: Charles Edward Hockey (23, Boarder, Single, Platelayer, born Waterloo, London).

Marriage of Charles E. Hockey and Sarah J. Crump registered June quarter 1914 in Lutterworth, Leicstershire.

Personal Data

The 'Staffordshire Roll of Honour' records ' L/C C.E. Hockey, Ox. & Bucks.' There is only one casualty named Hockey in the Ox. & Bucks. Light Infantry, so there is no doubt that this is the correct man. Charles was born in Lambeth, was boarding in Sheffield in 1911, and is shown as enlisting in Aylesbury.

In April/May/June 1914, Charles Hockey married Sarah Jane Crump in Lutterworth; this would appear to be the reason that he is commemorated on a Tipton memorial although he may well have never lived in Tipton. In 1911, George and Sarah Crump were living in Well Street, Birmingham - Sarah was shown as being born in Tipton. Sarah's first husband, George Crump, died in 1913. It is possible that after the death of her second husband, Charles Hockey, she returned to Tipton.

After Charles' death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £1/15/9d (1 pound, 15 shillings and 9 pence); this was paid to his widow Sarah J. in December 1917. His War Gratuity was £4/0/0d (4 pounds exactly), this was paid to his widow Sararh J in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Charles had enlisted in July 1916.

Action resulting in his death

The 1/4th Ox and Bucks moved from Dambre Camp at Vlamertinghe into the front line at Kitchener’s Wood on the night of 5th / 6th August. Kitchener’s Wood was about 3 kilometres south of Langemarck, and just to the west of the infamous Steenbeck, then more of a flood plain than a stream.

On the night of 7th / 8th August, the 1/4th Ox and Bucks were relieved from the front line and moved back to reserve trenches, then 24 hours later they moved back once more to Dambre Camp.

The War Diary for the 8th August says: “Relief complete shortly before daybreak. Foggy morning, bright and sunny later until 6 pm. Our trenches shelled with High Explosives several times during day, ‘B’ and ‘D’ companies suffering casualties.”. Charles belonged to ‘B’ Company, and he was among 10 men of the battalion who lost their lives on that day, presumably due to German shellfire. Charles has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.