989, Private, Albert EARL [COCKERTON]
Aged 24
Killed in Action on Wednesday 22nd September, 1915
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Born in Newmarket in Q3-1890, son of Maria COCKERTON [24].
1891 census...Albert [6 months] was in Gazeley with his mother [24] born Barton Mills, who was housekeeper to widower Thomas EARLE [65] and his son Thomas [21]. 1901 census...Albert [10] was in Higham with his mother and step father Thomas EARL (junior), also Thomas Earl senior and half sisters Emma and Alice. Thomas and Maria married in 1894 [Newmarket Q4-3b:1217]. 1911 census...Albert [20] (now recorded as a nephew) was a farm labourer at Dove House Farm, Ramsey, Hunts with his mother and stepfather. |
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Albert was Newmarket born and considered himself a native of Newmarket according to his Australian Army records. It is not known when he emigrated.
Enlisting in the Australian Army on 4th May 1915, when he seems to have adopted his step-father's surname, he was 5 feet 7.5 inches (171.5 cm) tall,
weighing 134 pounds (61 kg) and chest of 35" (88.9 cm). He had an address as c/o Mrs Farmer,
Almada, Hay Street, Perth.
Embarked on HMAT Ascanius from Freemantle on 29th June 1915 for Alexandria. Presumably some rudimentary military training was undertaken in Egypt. He was hospitalised on 16th July with measles. Embarked from Alexandria for Gallipoli on 4th September 1915, he was killed in action 18 days later, on the 22nd September. 40 pages of his Army records have survived, much concerning letters from a D Earl serving on HM Yacht Britannia enquiring after Albert's personal effects. There was even some paperwork concerning this still on going in 1957!. His step-father Thomas EARL was given as his next of kin and had moved to March. |
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