William Frederick Cockrell

A Lieutenant with H.M.S. Martello, William died on 28 January 1942, aged 48. 

William was born at Wivenhoe, Essex, on 10 September 1893, a son of William Frederick and Margaret Christina Cockrell. He was baptised at Saint Mary’s Church, Wivenhoe, on 26 October 1893. By 1901 his family had moved to Lowestoft and lived at 4 Waveney Drive, and this was still their address in 1911 when William worked as an engineer. By 1916 their home was at Chesterfield House, Lowestoft, and later his parents lived at Arlington, North Parade.

William was commissioned as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 26 July 1916. He served with Motor Launch 12 in November 1916, and Motor Launch 414 from December 1916. He was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 26 July 1917. On 25 May 1918 he joined H.M.S. Queen for hydroplane duties and was awarded the First-Class certificate. Later he joined H.M. Trawler Stephen and was demobilised on 1 June 1919. 

On 29 March 1924 William married Caroline Isabel Belton at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley. William was an engineer and they both lived at Kirkley. By 1939 they were living at The Homestead, 40 Victoria Road, Oulton Broad, and William was a refrigeration engineer. 

William was commissioned as a Temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 16 December 1940 and served with H.M.S. Martello, the minesweeper base at Lowestoft, William died from illness.