EDWARD ROCKLEY 1881–1929

Rockley, E1 ed

Photograph from family collection

Born 1881, Radcliffe on Trent

Baptised 20th February 1881 St Mary’s Church, Radcliffe on Trent

Married January 12th 1909 to Louisa Forester, Shropshire.

Children: Frederick Edward born 1909, Freda M. born 1915.

Died 30 August 1929 in Ancoats Hospital, Manchester. He is buried in Radcliffe  on Trent cemetery (Plot A061).

1881 Census

Age 3 months living at Spellow Farm, Radcliffe on Trent with parents Thomas, agricultural labourer, and Harriet née Simpson and sister Elizabeth 3.

1891 Census

Age 10 living at Spellow Farm with his parents, Thomas, an agricultural labourer, Harriet, a retired dressmaker, and sisters Edith 13 and Mary 11.

1901 Census

Age twenty a bricklayer’s apprentice living at Spellow Farm with his father, Thomas, a farm stockman, mother Harriet, sister Mary and boarders Arthur Woolley, a plasterer’s apprentice, and John Burden, a farm waggoner.

1911 Census

Age 30 living in Ivy Cottage, Main Road, Radcliffe on Trent with wife Louisa and son Frederick Edward, 1. Edward is employed as a bricklayer. His parents had moved with Edward’s sister to Devon.

Military Service

Rank: Private

Service Number: 36951, then 140480 Royal Army Medical Corps.

Military Unit: Northumberland Fusiliers

Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 31.5.17, total war service abroad two months

Enlisted: Newark 9.2.1916

Occupation described as bricklayer on attestation paper, builder and contractor on discharge papers. Height 5ft 6½ins, weight 159lbs, chest 38½ins. Medical category AI

9.2.17–30.5.17: Home

31.05.17–21.7.17: France

Wounded

18.7.17: 142 Field Ambulance to no 30 Ambulance train, then to hospital ship HMAT Warilda (His Majesty’s Australian Transport). Shrapnel wound right foot/gunshot wound to toe.

18.7.17: 1000 units of anti-tetanus given

18.7.17: serving with 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers 

 ‘Interferes with walking. Toe in state of extension’.

Entitled to wear a wound stripe

For more information, description of the Wound Stripe click here.

In hospital 5 months: Grevillers in France, Leaf Square, Manchester and Knutsford, Cheshire.

22.7.17–25.2.19: Home

14.6.18: Medical category BII 6 months light labour

28.06.18: Passed preliminary Bricklayer test, East Bolden

13.08.18: Examined without test and accepted as bricklayer, Trade Test Centre, Woolwich

13.08.18: Transferred to Royal Army Medical Corps, no.140480

13.09.18: Posted to London Sanitary Company Depot, RAMC, Blackpool

26.02.19: Demobilised

Disablement 20% reduced to 1%. Gratuity £30

He received a pension of 7/10d per week from 27.2.19. Records do not state how long this continued.

Details of his stay in hospital can be found in a transcription of his diary

Medals Awarded: British War and Victory

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent

1921 Census

Address: Eastwood Road, Radcliffe

Employment: Builder and Contractor

Household: wife Louisa, son Frederick, daughter Freda

1922 Electoral Register

Address: Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Household: Edward Rockley living with wife Louisa

Other Information

1920 directory: builder

Address at death: Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Probate to Louisa, widow and son Frederick Edward.

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe  on Trent Roll of Honour

Born, lived, worked and buried in Radcliffe on Trent.