Photo: Geordie at War Project
In Gateshead East Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
Erected
To the memory of
Pte. James Cockett,
Killed in action in France on the Somme
July 1st 1916, aged 21½ years
also Cellina mother of the above
and beloved wife of
James Cockett
died April 23rd 1932, aged 73 years.
Also Mary daughter of the above
died January 21st 1935, aged 51 years.
Also the above James Cockett
died September 23rd 1936, aged 80 years.
Brenda McMahon submitted the following :-
James was born on 1 January 1895 at Gateshead. He was baptised at the Venerable Bede church on 23 January. His parents were James ( a cooper in glass trade) & Cellina (nee Smith Benson).
His siblings were Mary (dressmaker, Elizabeth (paper box maker), John (house ventilator maker), Eleanor (machinist at C.W.S.), Margaret (office worker), Tom (shop assistant in boot trade as was his brother James.
James served with 18th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (attached to 7th Bn. East Kents). His service no was 7174. He was killed on the first day of the Somme in July 1916. He is buried at Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz.
James Cockett is remembered at Gateshead on G39.004
