Pte
Jesse Allen Mockford
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 23/10/1898 |
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Place of birth: Notting Hill, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: SD/612 |
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Enlistment place: Hailsham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Sussex Regiment, 11th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
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Place of death: Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 18 |
Cemetery
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Duhallow A.D.S. cemetery Plot: Unknown Row: Unknown Grave: Unknown |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 08/11/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 08/11/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Jesse Allen Mockford was a 20 year old lad, born in Notting Hill, UK. Private Mockford was part of ‘C’ Company, 11th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, 116th Brigade, 39th Division. At the end of July, his battalion was deployed in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, a sub battle in the Battle of Passchendaele.
On the 28th of July, at 8.30 p.m., the 11th Battalion moved up and took over the Hill Top Sector. Over the next two days, they made the final preparations for the attack. During these preparations they were subjected to heavy shelling. Late in the evening on the 30th of July, the soldiers took up their battle positions. The attack was launched at 3.50 a.m., on July 31st. The first objective, the blue line (California Reserve), was taken with few casualties. ‘C’ Company of the 11th Battalion played significant role in taking the first objective. They had advanced in artillery formation from the assembly position in Cavan Trench, crossing Hopkins Trench and moving forward in two waves to capture the blue line. After they had taken the blue line, they immediately moved forward and managed to occupy California Drive and Cheddar Villa. Thereafter they started consolidating. During the afternoon two companies moved up in close support of the 14th Hampshire Regiment and succeeded in consolidating the black line (Corner Cottage – Wine House). On the black line, the battalion prepared for a possible German counter-attack, but no attack was launched. German shelling was very heavy all day and persisted all night. During the 31st of July, the 11th battalion had about 150 casualties (killed, wounded, missing).
Private Mockford was one of those soldiers. He was taken to Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station, where he died of his wounds and was buried at the Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery in plot I, row A, grave 44. Today, private Mockford is still remembered here.
On the 28th of July, at 8.30 p.m., the 11th Battalion moved up and took over the Hill Top Sector. Over the next two days, they made the final preparations for the attack. During these preparations they were subjected to heavy shelling. Late in the evening on the 30th of July, the soldiers took up their battle positions. The attack was launched at 3.50 a.m., on July 31st. The first objective, the blue line (California Reserve), was taken with few casualties. ‘C’ Company of the 11th Battalion played significant role in taking the first objective. They had advanced in artillery formation from the assembly position in Cavan Trench, crossing Hopkins Trench and moving forward in two waves to capture the blue line. After they had taken the blue line, they immediately moved forward and managed to occupy California Drive and Cheddar Villa. Thereafter they started consolidating. During the afternoon two companies moved up in close support of the 14th Hampshire Regiment and succeeded in consolidating the black line (Corner Cottage – Wine House). On the black line, the battalion prepared for a possible German counter-attack, but no attack was launched. German shelling was very heavy all day and persisted all night. During the 31st of July, the 11th battalion had about 150 casualties (killed, wounded, missing).
Private Mockford was one of those soldiers. He was taken to Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station, where he died of his wounds and was buried at the Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery in plot I, row A, grave 44. Today, private Mockford is still remembered here.
Sources 6
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2936442/JESSE%20ALLEN%20MOCKFORD/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the day by day account. Londen: Uniform, 2018. 28-9. Sources used |
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Naval and Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com Sources used |
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Roll of Honour http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex/Eastbourne_WW1_M.html Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/royal-sussex-regiment/ Sources used |