Arthur Denis Bradford Cocks 1904 - 1944

Arthur Denis Bradford Cocks 29th July 1904 - 6th June 1944.

Born on the 29th of July 1904 at Dharmsala, Bengal, India.

Baptised at Dharmsala, Bengal, India, on the 8th of September 1904.

Educated at Bedford School, Bedford, Befordshire, unknown dates.

Arthur played a number of games of cricket for Bedford School between 1920 and 1922.

Arthur played cricket for the county of Bedfordshire in the 1924 Minor Counties Championship.

Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich, unknown dates.

Arthur played cricket for the Army team as a right handed batsman between 1924 and 1928.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, on the 28th of January 1925. Published in the London Gazette on the 27th of January 1925, Issue 33015, Page 593.

Royal Engineers

Service No: 31536.

Promoted to Lieutenant on the 28th of January 1927. Published in the London Gazette on the 28th of January 1927, Issue 33243, Page 580.

Arthur married Majorie Du Caurroy Chads, between July and September 1932. Registered at Alverstoke, Hampshire.

Promoted to Captain on the 28th of January 1936. Published in the London Gazette on the 28th of January 1936, Issue 34250, Page 603.

Embarked on the S.S. "Amarapoora" at Rangoon, India, and disembarking at London, England on the 7th of April 1936. Address given as Cartref, The Avenue, Camberley, Surrey.

Appointed (Temporary) Staff Captain, at the War Office, on the 1st of December 1937. Published on the 17th of December 1937, Issue 34464, Page 7917.

Relinquished role of (Temporary) Staff Captain, at the War Office on the 21st of January 1939. Published in the London Gazette on the 27th of January 1939, Issue 34593, Page 606.

Promoted to Major on the 28th of January 1942. Published in the London Gazette on the 27th of January 1942, Supplement 35433, Page 437.

Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, unknown date.

Arthur was Killed in the Action during the assault on Sword Beach, D-Day, gaining the distinction of being the first British Officer Killed in the Landings.

On D-Day Arthur was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 5th Assault Regiment Royal Engineers. They were a specialist unit equipped with converted vehicles such as the so called 'Hobart's Funnies' intended to clear the beaches and make exits onto the first inland road.

Arthur was aboard LCT-947 (109) which carried 2 Crabs and 4 A.V.R.E (converted Churchill tanks) which he Commanded from the A.V.R.E named Plough. An account given by Lambton Burn a Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who was aboard LCT-947 wrote the following;

" Shells are bursting all round. They are not friendly shorts from bombardment warships, but vicious stabs from an enemy who has held his fire until the final two hundred yards. He is shooting well shooting often. Mortar shells whine and burst with sickening inevitability. An L.C.T. to port goes up in flames.

There is a sudden jerk as our bows hit the beach. Down goes the ramp, with Sub-Lieutenant Monty Glengarry, R.N.Z.N.V.R. [Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve] and his party working like madmen at the bows.

There is a roar of acceleration and Donald Robertson in Stornoway [the first Crab, which managed to disembark] is away like a relay runner.

Dunbar [the second Crab] moves forward. Colonel Cocks leans from his turret [he had elected to command from the Plough] and motions the other tank-commanders to follow. But enemy fire is now concentrated on us. There are bursts on both sides and then snap two direct hits on our bows followed by a third snap like a whip cracking over the tank hold.

The First Lieutenant is flung sideways against a bulkhead and lies stunned. Dunbar stops in her tracks slews sideways blocks the door. Another and greater explosion as the bangalore shafts of Barbarian [the Log Carpet A.V.R.E., with Captain Fairie in command] explode with a flash of red.

Colonel Cocks is killed as he stands, and there is a scream from within his tank. Cold with anger, Tom Fairie moves Barbarian forward tries to edge Dunbar to the ramp but fails. He vaults from his turret and is joined by other tank-men who strain furiously to bring chain and tackle to bear."

The badly damaged LCT-947 (109) made a difficult return to England where the troop vehicles and survivors were transferred to another LCT, eventually reaching Normandy later in the month.

Arthur was buried at St. Peters, Frimley, Surrey, aged 39 on the 13th of June 1944.

Grave Ref: 239.

Lee Thomas

June 6th 2014

Lest We Forget