Name
Lewis Charles Mockett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/10/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
78662
Tank Corps
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TOURGEVILLE MILITARY CEMETERY
IV. C. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY HIS SOUL TO GOD ALWAYS LOVINGLY REMEMBERED
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Lewis Charles was born in Walmer, Kent in 1897 the eldest son of Charles Edward Mockett, a house porter, and Adelaide (nee Phillips).
On the 1901 Census the Family were living at Court Road, Monegeham Kent and on the 1911 Census they were at Ladysmith, Church Street Walmer. His father , Charles later lived at Luton Road, Harpenden.
Wartime Service
Lewis originally enlisted as Private in Royal Army Service Corps, but later transfer to 8 Battalion Tank Corps as Private 78662.
Many of the drivers of tanks were recruited from Royal Army Service Corps ( the gunners were usually members of the Machine Gun Corps). He was wounded by Shrapnel to the Forehead in Aug 1918 (this shrapnel may have been from the internal plates of the tank) and died of his wound on 3 Oct 1918.
Additional Information
His father, Mr C E Mockett, Luton Rd., Harpenden, Herts. , ordered his headstone inscription: “HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY HIS SOUL TO GOD ALWAYS LOVINGLY REMEMBERED”. War Gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of £19 8s paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
