Name
Clifford Herbert Cooley
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20851
Essex Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KNIGHTSBRIDGE CEMETERY, MESNIL-MARTINSART
D. 41.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Wall Memorial, Potten End, Not on the Great Gaddesden Memorial
Pre War
Clifford Cooley was born in Potten End, Berkhamsted, Herts in 1896, the son of Charles and Emma Cooley.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Potten End, next door to the Plough Inn, and his father was working as a Coal Merchant. They remained there on the 1911 Census, at which time Clifford was working as a Labourer at the Chemical Works.
Address on pension records was given as 1 Potten End, Berkhamsted.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford and initially served with the Norfolk Regiment (reg. no. 17574) later transferring to the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment.
He first served in the Balkans (Gallipoli) from 9 October 1915.
He died from wounds received in action on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The 1st Battalion received orders to advance and clear the German first-line trenches. it was delayed by heavy enemy fire and congestion in the communication trenches. At 10.50 am the Essex companies were in position and received orders to "go over the top". They immediately came under heavy artillery and machine gun fire causing heavy losses and the attack became bogged down in no man's land.
He is buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, France.
Additional Information
Brother to Alfred Cooley who was killed on 20 0ctober 1916 and is buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, France. His mother received a pension of 5 shillings a week and a war gratuity of £6 10s. His father received pay owing of £1 14s 8d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk
