Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Cockerill a house painter, born 1868 in Lubenham, Leics., and his wife Kate Mary, born 1868 in Aylesbury, Bucks. Edward was born in 1899 in Lubenham, Leics., his siblings were, George Thomas, born 1891, John William, born 1893, the latter two siblings were both born in Lubenham, Leics., Nellie Elizabeth, born 1895 in Husbands Bosworth, Leics., and Fanny Elmes Cockerill, born 1897 in Lubenham, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Westgate, Lubenham, Leics. In April 1911 Edward was a scholar and was residing in the family home at Back Lane, Lubenham, Leics., together with his father, now a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, George, John, Nellie, Fanny, Mary Amelia, born 1903, Hilda Maud, born 1906, Eveline, born 1907 and Reginald Arthur, born 1910, the latter four siblings were all born in Lubenham, Leics. His elder brother George Thomas died of sickness as a result of being gassed.