Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Cockerill, an iron moulder, born 1852 in Thrapston, Northamptonshire and his wife Mary Ann Cockerill (nee Pickering, married in the 4th quarter of 1881 in the Kettering, Northamptonshire district), born 1853 in Swineshead, Bedfordshire. George was born in the 2nd quarter of 1882 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, his siblings were, Rose Ellen, born 1884 in Thrapston and Florence, born 1886 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at 1, Pinfold Street, Loughborough. In March 1901 George was employed as a bell foundry moulder and was residing in the family home at Bass’s Yard, 2, Nottingham Road, Loughborough, together with his father, a bell foundry moulder, his mother and siblings, Rose, a hosiery trade machinist, Florence and Walter, born 25th March 1895 in Loughborough. In the 2nd quarter of 1902, George’s father died in Loughborough, aged 49. In the 4th quarter of 1909 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district, George’s mother married George Jarram. In April 1911 George was employed as a core maker and was residing as a visitor at 28, Lockhurst Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire.
George’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Coventry, Warwickshire into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, being allotted the service number 4581, and was posted as a Private to the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 4th May 1915. He was awarded the 1914-15 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 7 Jul-15 – TRENCHES – CANAL BANK. Major FORSTER sent to take command of LEFT SECTOR, 11th Brigade. And Major BANNERMAN went later to assist him. “C” Company heavily shelled, relieved by “D” Company in evening. Two Machine Guns sent up to relieve RIFLE BRIGADE. 2nd Lieutenant KELLER wounded.
Casualties – 3 Other ranks killed, 2 wounded, 1 missing.
Whole Battalion put under orders of 11th Brigade, but remained in present position.
On Saturday 24th July 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” – Mrs. Jarrom, of Pinfold-gate, Loughborough, has received information that her son, Pte. GEO. COCKERILL, of the Warwickshire Regiment, has been killed in France on July 7th. Private Cockerill, who was 33 years of age, and unmarried, enlisted in August while at work in Coventry.