Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT 'Anchises A68 for Suez 2.9.1915.
Roll Rank Trooper.
Roll Unit 8th Reinforcement 10th Light Horse.
Cockshott disembarked in Egypt with the 10th Light Horse. He underwent a period of intensive training before contracting mumps. He was hospitalised with mumps at the No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis 26.1.1916. On discharge he was taken on strength with 4th Division Artillery Column as Gunner, at Serapeum 7.4.1916 and appointed Temporary Driver 18.5.1916. He then transferred to 24th Howitzer Brigade and was posted to 112th Battery. He entrained to Alexandria with his Unit, joined British Expeditionary Force 2.6.1916, however, could not embark as he became ill and was hospitalised with a debility 22.6.1916. After discharge from Hospital he embarked for France and disembarked at Marseilles 18.6.1916. Cockshott was appointed Driver 1.7.1916. Six months later he transferred to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade 25.1.1917. He was re-mustered as a Gunner in Belgium 1.6.1917 for the Battle of Messines. The Battalion fought at Passchendaele in the Third Battle of Ypres. On October18th the 12th Field Artillery marched all day on the Bailleul-Lochre-Westoutre route and camped near Rheninghels. That night their camp was bombed and 5 men were killed and 4 were wounded. Cockshott was wounded in action with injuries to his shoulder and left hip 18.10.1918.  He was transferred from 11th Stationary Hospital to a Hospital Ship ‘St Patrick’ and invalided to England. Admitted to Cheltenham Hospital 22.10.1918 and from there to the No 2 Southern General Hospital at Bristol. Cockshott was listed for early return to Australia, invalided with a gunshot wound to his back.
Embarked for Australia per ‘Mamari’ 21.12.1918.
Returned/Disembarked 27.1.1919.
Discharged 11.4.1919.
Final Rank Gunner, 12th Army Field Artillery Brigade.
Medical Condition. Invalided gunshot wound to back.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Note Australian War Memorial spells his surname with one ’T’ and National Archives Australia spells with two ‘T’s. Thomas Reginald and his brother Francis Reginald Cockshott  both enlisted  for active service in WW1. Both returned invalided.
Photos  Reginald Thomas Cockshott Portrait. Photographer unknown, photograph reproduced with permission of M.Flecker
              Reginald  Thonas Cockshott. Photographer unknown, photograph reproduced with permission of M. Flecker
              HMAT 'Anchises'. Photographer A.C.Green, photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of Great Southern Postcards
              Heliopolis Hospital, Cairo. Photograph donor E. Claydon, photograph source AWM J0950
              Australian Soldiers travelling to Messines Ridge June 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00475
            
Information Source
AWM J0950. Heliopolis Hospital, Cairo. Photograph donor E. Claydon, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00475. Australian Soldiers travelling to Messines Ridge June 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Reginald Thomas Cockshott
Flecker, M. Reginald Thomas Cockshott. Photographer unknown, photographs reproduced with permission of M.Flecker
Great Southern Postcards. HMAT 'Anchises'. Photographer A.C.Green, photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of Great Southern Postcards, website http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hmat3.htm#A68
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455 Cockshott F P


Darlington, WA.

Associated Images