Hi, I am wondering if anyone can help with some research I am undertaking into Robert Mervyn Cockings (served as Robert Lawrence Collins), 124656, Private, 1/South African Irish Regiment. He died in Central Italy on 26th November 1943. My understanding is that he was a prisoner of war at the time. He was born in q2.1920 in Cardiff, South Wales, UK, and worked as a bank clerk in the city before the war. I am trying to get the the bottom of two things: 1. Why did he serve under the alias of "Collins"? 2. Can anyone confirm the cause of death? Was it through wounds or illness, or something else? He is buried at Ancona War Cemetery. Any help would be much appreciated. Ceri.
Did he enlist in South Africa? His parents were divorced in 1925, so perhaps his mother went to South Africa after the divorce and married a Mr Collins there? Divorce Court File: 244. Appellant: Albert Landeg Cockings. Respondent: Emily Cockings.... | The National Archives EDIT: it seems he followed his father’s sisters’s family to SA, so the change of name at “re-attestation” could perhaps be more likely due to getting turned down for some reason first time he enlisted.
Hi George, Many thanks for your reply. I must admit that I did not know that his parents had divorced when Robert was so young. I do not know where he enlisted, but he was in school in Cardiff until 1936, then became a bank clerk. It is entirely possible that he may have gone to South Africa in the late 1930s or early 1940s though, especially if his mother had already emigrated, possibly on remarrying. I will need to look at that avenue. His father, Albert, was described as a widower on the 1939 Register, but this was probably false information, given to hide the fact that he was divorced. A strange thing to do by today's standards, but clearly divorce was far more of a stigma in the 1920s & 30s. For the completeness of the War Memorial records in our village, I really hope that I can find out more information on the cause of his death whilst a POW - whether through wounds or illness. I thank you once again for the lead on his parents' divorce. Kind Regards, Ceri.
Hello Ceri, Given the date of his death, and the fact that the south AFrican Irish were not fighting in Italy in November 1943, it is certain that Robert died as a POW. When I was researching the non-battle casualties in Ancona was cemetery I was told by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that he had been taken into the cemetery from Pedaso, which is a coastal town in the Marché region of Italy. There were two prisoner of war camps in this area - PG 59 Servigliano and PG 70 Monturano (Fermo) i but I can't find him listed in either of them. I suggest you send for his service record from: South African Military Records Centre via email at sandfdoc@mweb.co.za. They are located at: Schweikert Building 20 Visagie Street Pretoria Telephone: (012) 339-4600 Fax: (012) 339-4631 In the meantime I will see what I can discover about happenings in November 1943 in Pedaso, Best wishes, Vitellino
Hi Ceri, Yes, I've dug a bit further and found a few more bits of info you might find helpful. There is a record on ancestry which appears to be him (R.M Cocking) travelling to South Africa aged 16 in January 1937, as the address is Cardiff and the occupation clerk. And his death notice from Family Search does say he attested in and was living in Vereeniging, South Africa. (I'm intrigued by his next of kin in South Africa though - an Alice Jones? Edit - this is Rose Alice Jones, his father’s sister). But no cause of death unfortunately.
Try this: Friends of the South African Irish Regiment Also, you could ask for his records from the Red Cross. the service is free but you need to get your request in as soon as they open on 16 January at 08:00 hours Geneva time: Requests for information about people held during Spanish Civil War or Second World War: Quarterly limit reached | International Committee of the Red Cross (icrc.org)
I note on the record above that GeorgyB posted, its says he died in “PEDASO, ITALY”…….does that name give us a clue to the POW Camp???
Possibly PG 70 at Monte Urano. The camp was less than 30 kms from Pedaso. Location of PG70, Monturano (World War Two) 1 RootsChat.Com Regards, Dave
My thanks to everyone who has come through with further information this evening (Wednesday) whilst I have been out at a meeting. Quite a bit for me to look through! Kind Regards, Ceri.
From the SA War Graves project South African War Graves Project - Unfortunately it doesn't state cause of death or POW camp
As I said earlier: Below is the proof. Extract from WO 392/21 section 5 in my possession: WO 392/21 1943 Aug Section 1: British Army. Section 2: Australian Army. Section 3: Canadian Army. Section 4: New Zealand Army. Section 5: South African Army. Section 6: Indian Army. Section 7: Naval Forces and Merchant Seamen. Section 8: Air Forces. This document is a compilation of lists of members of the Allied Forces who were reported by Italian or Red Cross sources as being prisoners in Italian hands, minus those known officially to have died in Italian hands. The document includes men listed who died as a POW at sea in 1942, and also some listed as being in Libyan camps or buried in Greece. Camp locations are given where men were last known to be, in most cases Not only it the name missing but there's no one from PG 70 or PG 59. Neither is there anyone from other camps in the Marché region (PG 53 Macerata being the chief one) or from PG 78 Sulmona in the Abruzzo. There is an outside chance that the date furnished by CWGC is wrong. He might have died before the register was compiled. However, that does not explain what he was doing at Pedaso unless he had escaped either from the camp or from a work party. Another line of enquiry are the Red Cross report on conditions in PG 70 and PG 59. These reports usually name escapers and also people who died in hospital. Prisoners of war, Italy: Camp 70, Monte Urano; International Red Cross reports on... | The National Archives Prisoners of war, Italy: Camp 59, Servigliano; International Red Cross reports on... | The National Archives Vitellino Edited to say: Ceri, perhaps you are not aware that after the Armistice of 8 September 1943 the prisoners of war either escaped from the camps or were sent by the Germans to Stalags in German-occupied countries. This means that Cockings/Collins was at large when he died if we are to accept the date as 26 November 1943 and the place of initial burial. He may have been shot whilst resisting re-arrest or may have died from illness. A further approach would be to contact the Commnwealth War Graves Commission via their website and ask if they have any other information on him. The Graves Registration Unit often added explanatory notes they transferred unusual cases from temporary to permanent cemeteries.
Hi Diane, Thanks for this, yes, I did see that it was just a listing of casualties. Hopefully I can try the link to the military records in Pretoria to see if his service file is available. I shall post any news as I get it. Thanks again! Ceri.
Have not had any luck with being able to email the military records in Pretoria so far, the email is being bounced back saying that the address is unable to take emails. Possibly there is a fault from their end. I shall try again later this morning. Thanks once again to everyone for their help on this. Cheers, Ceri.
Hi, try this e-mail address archive@dod.mil.za Tomorrow is a Public Holiday here in South Africa and then it is Christmas so don't expect a reply till next year. It's summer holiday time. (Temp in Cape Town at the moment 25C) Di
