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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Private Clement Frank Cookson

Description

DescriptionClement was born at Templeton on 28th December 1893, fourth son of Arthur and Agnes Cookson, of Lincoln. Before enlisting he was a farm worker for Mr W. A. Scaife of Culverden. He had previous military experience having served with the 13th Regiment, Canterbury and West Coast. He was 5ft 4½ tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He also had a scar on both his left index finger and his left thigh.

Clement enlisted on 11th December 1914 and was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He embarked on 14th February 1915 for Suez, Egypt arriving on 26th March. From there he joined the Battalion at Gallipoli on 9th May. He survived through the battles of May only to fall ill with pneumonia and was admitted to a hospital ship on 26 July 1915, for evacuation to medical aid at Malta. Arriving there on 31st July he was diagnosed with enteric fever, the name used in those days for typhoid. From there he was sent via the Hospital ship Letitia for England. After treatment over the following three months he was finally sent to Grey Towers, the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital near Hornchurch. He was attached to the Reserve Battalion at Sling on 10 August 1916 and it was not until 30 March 1917 that he marched out to Codford and transferred to the 3rd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment. He made another change, this time to the 4th Brigade at Codford on 3rd May. The 4th Infantry Brigade was officially formed on 15 March 1917 at Codford, the command depot of the NZEF. Its core units were four infantry battalions specifically formed for the brigade, these being the third battalions of the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago regiments. Its men were drawn from fresh replacements newly arrived in England, men recovered from wounds and already at Codford and finally, experienced men specifically sent from France. However one of the conditions of its formation was that it could be used to supply replacements for the New Zealand Division. Clement was duly transferred back to the 2nd Company, 3rd Battalion Canterbury Regiment on 2nd April and sent on to France on 28 May. He was killed in action in the field in the last day of the fighting for Passchendaele on 18 October, aged 24. On 18 October, II Anzac Corps was relieved by the Canadians. Clement's body was not found or identified and his name is inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, N.Z. Apse, Panel 2. In New Zealand Clement is remembered on the Lincoln Roll of Honour.First NameClement FrankLast NameCooksonFamilySingleSon of Arthur and Agnes Cookson, of Lincoln, Canterbury.Date of Birth28 December 1893Place of BirthTempletonDate of Death18 October 1917Place of DeathYpres, BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death24Other Biographical InformationArthur Cookson (father), Box 24, Lincoln

Connections

CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLincoln War Memorial Roll of HonourMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryTyne Cot Memorial to the MissingLincoln Roll of HonourOccupation before EnlistingFarmhandRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details11th December 1914Service Number6/1494Embarkation14th February 1915Place of EmbarkationWellingtonTheatre of WarGallipoliFranceNominal Roll147

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. SeatonTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license.

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Private Clement Frank Cookson