The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 161


The historically important 1914 Star awarded to Private J. Parr, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action near Mons on 21 August 1914 - believed to be the first British soldier to be killed in action during the Great War


1914 Star, with copy clasp (L-14196 Pte. J. Parr. 4/Midd’x R.) nearly extremely fine £1,800-£2,200


John Parr was born in 1897 at Finchley, Middlesex, the son of Edward and Alice Parr and, having left his job as a caddie at North Middlesex Golf Club, attested for the Middlesex Regiment in 1912, aged 15 years.


Following the outbreak of the Great War, still aged just 17, he embarked for France with the 4th Battalion of his regiment as part of the 8th Brigade in the 3rd Division, arriving in France among the first units of the British Expeditionary Force on 14 August 1914.


On 21 August, as the forward units of the British Army approached Mons and suspected some proximity to the advancing Germans, Parr, in his role as a reconnaissance cyclist, together with another cyclist, was sent forward towards the village of Obourg, north-east of Mons, to locate the German positions. It is thought that Parr and his fellow cyclist then encountered an Uhlan patrol from the German First Army and that Parr was killed in an exchange of fire whilst holding off the enemy in an attempt to allow his companion to return and report their findings.


The precise circumstances of Parr’s death are not entirely clear; however, he is considered to be, and recorded as, the first British Army soldier to have been killed in action during the Great War.


On 23 August, as the British Army began its long retreat following the Battle of Mons, Parr’s body was left behind and his death was not to be confirmed by the British War Office until much later. His body was buried by the Germans in a battlefield grave which was subsequently located by the Imperial War Graves Commission and he now lies buried in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, near Mons, Belgium. Symbolically, his grave is opposite that of George Edwin Ellison, 5th Royal Irish Lancers, who was killed in action on 11 November 1918, and is thought to be the last British soldier to be killed in action during the Great War.


162


Three: Private J. Cokley, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was posted missing, presumed killed in action at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first full day of fighting on the Western Front


1914 Star, with clasp (L-6498 Pte. J. Cokley. 4/Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-8498 Pte. J. Cokley. Midd’x R.) toned, nearly extremely fine (3)


£200-£240


John Cokley was born at Poplar, Middlesex and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Stratford, Essex in 1903. He served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914 and was present at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, on the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of action. On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Two Companies were placed along the canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls: ‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey, whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held for the time being.’


However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken Prisoner of War.


Like many men of the B.E.F. killed at Mons, Cokley was initially reported only as being missing on 23 August 1914. After the war the Army Council finally concluded that he had died on (or since) that date and he is recorded by the CWGC as having died on 23 August 1914. He was the husband of Lilian May Cokley and, having no known grave, is commemorated on La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.


Sold together with the recipient’s daughter’s marriage certificate, dated 26 March 1932; War Office Effect’s Form No. 45, dated 30 May 1923, acquainting the recipient’s wife with a sum of money from the recipient’s brother’s estate, the latter (William Coakley) having been killed serving with the 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, in October 1917; Army Form B. 104-82A, dated 3 June 1919 informing the recipient’s wife of the Army Council’s decision to conclude that her husband was dead and that his death had occurred on 23 August 1914 (or since).


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