Charles’ occupation and marital status upon enlistment, was detailed as a labourer, who was single.
- Date of Birth – 1889, Yorkshire England
- Parents – Son of George Henry and Kate Eleanor Cockin, of Gilberdyke, Brough, Yorkshire, England. He was aged 24 when he arrived in Australia.
- Enlisted at Goulburn on 15 April 1916 and embarked from Sydney, on board HMAT Port Sydney, on 4 September 1916.1University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=56666 Accessed 19 April 2026.
- Regimental Number – 1788.2National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Cockin Charles Ernest, Item ID– 3265111, Accessed 19 April 2026.
- Aged at embarkation – 273Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1712685 Accessed 19 April 2026.
- Military service – 35th Infantry Battalion. Rank – Private4Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/70447 Accessed 19 April 2026.
- Served at the Western Front. Charles was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal.
- Killed in action in France on 4 April 1918 (aged 29 years)5Find a Grave.com. Charles Ernest Cockin’s name is located at panel 125 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249775469/charles-ernest-cockin Accessed 19 April 2026 and Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau file No… Accessed 19 April 2026.
- Commemorated on the Australian National War Memorial, France, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.6Commonwealth War Graves, https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1459251/charles-ernest-cockin/ Accessed 19 April 2026.
Charles’ military records (p 21) include a letter dated 21 January 1919, from Lucy Leydon of Araluen, informing that she was the late soldiers allottee and engaged to him. Lucy was requesting information regarding his personal effects. Lucy Angela Leyden (1888-1959), was the youngest daughter of Daniel Leyden and Maria Gilligan. Daniel is detailed as a miner in Burketown, West Araluen in the 1875 Greville’s Post Office Directory.7Greville’s Official Post Office Directory for 1875-1876 https://www.ihr.com.au/secure/html/greville75.html. Accessed 4 July 2026, p 20. Lucy married Ernest James Dunshea, from Braidwood on 5 April 1923 at St Brigid’s Church, Marrickville.
The Goulburn Evening Post8Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881-1940), Tuesday 18 April 1916, p 4. reported on 18 April 1916 on recruiting in Goulburn that the ‘following additional recruits have been enrolled at the Drill Hall: -Charles Ernest Cockin, Bombala’.
In June 1918, the Bombala Times 9Bombala Times (NSW : 1912-1938), Friday 14 June 1918, p 6. noted ‘Prte. Charles Cockin, who enlisted from Gunningarah about two years ago, has been killed in action’. The Delegate Argus10Delegate Argus (NSW : 1906-1943), Thursday 20 June 1918, p 2. added ‘Private Charles Cockin, who was at one time employed on the Gunningarah Station, has been killed in action. He enlisted here about two years ago.’
Notice of his death was listed in the Sydney Morning Herald11Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Saturday 8 June 1918, p 12. in June 1918, stating ‘COCKIN. —Killed in action in France, Charles Ernest Cockin, aged 29 years, dearly loved eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Cockin, the Post-office, Gilberdyke, E. Yorks, England, beloved friend of Lucy Leyden’. 12Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 11 May 1923, p 2.