Cockermouth Cemetery, Cumbria: War Graves

PEACOCK, WILLIAM OSTLE


Rank: Flight Lieutenant Service No: 120534 Date of Death: 13/11/1943 Age: 21 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 181 Sqdn. Panel Reference: Panel 120. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peacock, of Carlisle.




Memorial kindly thanks to Clive.

 

Sergeant Joseph William Litt.

Joseph was born at Eaglesfield, Cumberland 26th October 1854.

By 1872 he was in the Royal Horse Artillery, and a few years later he went to India where he served for 11 years. On journeying home he was stopped at Egypt as the fierce conflict of 1884 was breaking out, and very soon was engaged in the battles of El Tab and Tomaai, which were fought in square formation. It was in the El Tab clash that Joseph greatly distinguished himself . He was in charge of a section at the very corner of the square when he saw about 100 yards away to the front that 2 Dervishers had Regiment Sergeant –Major Tushy on the ground and were about to kill him with poisoned spears. Sergeant Litt dashed to the rescue and in the nick of time bayonetted the Dervishers before they could kill Sergeant-Major Tushy. Sergeant Joseph Litt was mentioned in despatches for this action.

He was to remain in the army until 1893 when he was pensioned out after 21 years of service.

At the outbreak of the Boer war of 1899 he immediately volunteered with the Royal Irish Fusiliers and was soon at the front. He experienced many ordeals hard service for a year and was invalided out. This however didn’t suit and he soon enlisted into the W.C Imperial Yeomanry and was at the front until peace was declared. He was awarded 2 South African Medals.
Although over 60 years of age when the great war broke out in 1914, he could not resist offering his services, He enlisted into the Tyneside Irish on the 15th April 1915 but was discharged on the 28th April 1915 not fit for duty, but again he appeared in khaki in the Royal Defence Corps.

When Joseph passed away on the 15th August 1934,Aged 79. He was given a full military service from the Border Regiment Depot, The coffin was draped in the Union flag and top of his coffin was his medals as he desired.
The highest respect was shown by the large number of people who lined the streets as the procession wound it’s way to the little chapel in Cockermouth cemetery.

Here are Joseph's medals which are held in the Border regiment museum in Carlisle Castle. I am well chuffed I found these.

 

MAVIR, JAMES TRACEY


Rank: Able Seaman Service No: C/SSX 20463 Date of Death: 26/09/1942 Regiment/Service: Royal Navy H.M.S. "Veteran" Panel Reference: 55, 2. Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

James was probably named after his uncle James Tracey who was sadly killed in WW1. Who is also remembered on this headstone (and for some reason I missed it).
Link to his uncles post. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/27456-cockermouth-cemetery-cumbria-war-graves/page-3#entry451191

TRACEY, JAMES
Rank:Private
Service No:1440
Date of Death:09/08/1915
Age:24
Regiment/Service:Border Regiment
5th Bn.
Grave Reference H. 4.
Cemetery LA CHAPELLE D'ARMENTIERES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of William and Mary Ann Tracey, of Waterloo St., Cockermouth, Cumberland.​





​

 

Found this interesting broken headstone in the middle of a bush in the cemetery the other week, so with the permission off my uncle the Allerdale bereavement manager I cut the bush to reveal the writing.

A PRIVATE OF THE L COY
1ST VOL.BAT ,BORDER REG
I NOW THAT MY REDEEMER
LIVETH.

On the cross there are only initials there is not even a date of death. I thought what a nightmare this is going to be to try and find who this person is, but I believe with the help of Uncle Rob we have found him as being.

Joseph Wharton Hartness born 1866 Cockermouth.
1870 census he is living with a grandma (no parents)
By 1890 he is living in the Whitehaven area and working as a Printer.
From the burial records Joseph was single and was buried on the 5th January 1893.
The owner of the grave was a Baxter.
I have not been able to find any military records so I am only guessing at what my thought are.
The Officer commanding the Volunteer Border regiment at Cockermouth was a James Baxter. So in my opinion as Joseph didn't seem to have any family at the time of his death I believe James and the Volunteers payed for his funeral and headstone as Joseph was probably in the Volunteers ?

Have now think I have found who his father and mother are

Ester Wharton born Cockermouth 1839.
Joseph Jackson Hartness born Keswick 1837.




Burial 9th August 1975.

Here is his grandmas headstone note that it is the same type of headstone and the words of the hymn are also on the headstone.

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH.

 

Hi Deacs

1871 Census:
Name: Joseph Wharton Hartness
Age: 5
Estimated birth year: abt 1866
Relation: Grandson
Gender: Male
Where born: Cockermouth, Cumberland, England
Civil Parish: Cockermouth
Ecclesiastical parish: Christchurch
Town: Cockermouth
County/Island: Cumberland
Country: England
Registration district: Cockermouth
Sub-registration district: Cockermouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Household schedule number: 103
Piece: 5238
Folio: 13
Page Number: 20
Household Members:
Name Age
Esther Wharton 67
Joseph Wharton Hartness 5


1881 Census:

Name: Joseph W. Hartness
Age: 15
Estimated birth year: abt 1866
Relationship to Head: Boarder
Gender: Male
Where born: Cockermouth
Civil Parish: Cockermouth
County/Island: Cumberland
Country: England
Street address: 70 Main St
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Printer
Registration district: Cockermouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 5172
Folio: 113
Page Number: 9
Household Members:
Name Age
Alexander Devon 25
Mary Devon 26
George Mountain Devon 1
Mary Agnes Devon 15
John Smithson 16
Joseph W. Hartness 15


1891 Census:

Name: Joseph W Hartness
Age: 25
Estimated birth year: abt 1866
Relation: Lodger
Gender: Male
Where born: Cockermouth, Cumberland, England
Civil Parish: Whitehaven
Ecclesiastical parish: St Bees
Town: Town
County/Island: Cumberland
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Whitehaven
Sub registration district: Whitehaven
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4314
Folio: 49
Page Number: 34
Household Members:
Name Age
George Wattleworth 45
Sarah Ann Wattleworth 41
Annie Wattleworth 19
George Wattleworth 14
Amalia Wattleworth 8
Elizabeth J Wattleworth 4
Amelia Wattleworth 84
Ann Kitchen 66
William Dunlop 24
Joseph W Hartness 25
Fred Stanley 21

On the detail he is shown as a Printer Compositor - so I guess working on a local newspaper or similar

If you need copies of the actual census forms PM me

TD

 

Looking at 'Free BMD', the birth of Joseph Wharton Hartness was in the June 1865 Qtr, in the Cockermouth Reg. District. His death, at the age of 28, is also registered in the Cockermouth Reg. District in March 1893 Qtr.

If the cause of death was sudden, there is likely to have been an inquest report in one or more of the local newspapers at the time. There may also be a chance that there was a local newspaper report as he seems to have had a 'military funeral', even though he was not a regular soldier.

Assuming you get the chance to visit one of the libraries to look up the newspaper archive it might be worth looking at the back catalogue for early 1893? You have got a good way with the enquiry thus far and if you can find a newspaper report to complete it, all the better.

 

This birth info just popped up

Name: Joseph Wharton Hartness
Registration Year: 1865
Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Registration district: Cockermouth
Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
Inferred County: Cumberland
Volume: 10b
Page: 508

TD

 

Death details:

Name: Joseph W Hartness
Estimated birth year: abt 1865
Registration Year: 1893
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 28
Registration district: Cockermouth
Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
Inferred County: Cumberland
Volume: 10b
Page: 352

TD

 

Cheers TD I have his details from Ancestry but thanks very much anyways.

Joseph I was in the library Saturday but unfortunately not a lot of details regarding his death , as I said I am only assuming and guessing what why he has an headstone regarding the Volunteers next time I am back in I will have a deeper search maybe something may crop up.

Regards Mike.

 

McMASTER, NORMAN TOLSON
Rank:
Sergeant
Trade:
Air Gunner
Service No:
1028939
Date of Death:
05/10/1942
Age:
32
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
103 Sqdn.
Grave Reference:
3. D. 10.
Cemetery:
HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Robert and Esther Harkness McMaster; husband of Kathleen McMaster, of Southport, Lancashire.


Details of his crash on this thread https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...44496/&usg=AFQjCNEDjQQ3BekrhgDOkf4KIjl9CF8tlw

 

Can't believe it but found another remembrance stone today.

Private FORSYTH, WALTER
Service Number 14209529
Died 23/04/1944
Aged 22
4th Bn.
Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Buried at IMPHAL WAR CEMETERY
Location: India
Number of casualties: 1462
Cemetery/memorial reference: 7. E. 25.



Walter died of wounds but as of yet of his military life that's all I know.