COCKCRAFT, William Gordon La Trobe

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Rank: 
Major
Unit / Base: 
'Commando Basic Training Centre'
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Service: 
Army
Number: 
53758
Honours & Awards: 
Mentioned in Despatches
Born: 
Tuesday, September 17, 1912
Birthplace: 
Somerset
Died: 
1988
Major Cockcraft CBTC
Major William Cockcraft was second in command of the Commando Depot at Achnacarry, later renamed the Commando Basic Training Centre [1].
Member of the Commando Association from Hartley Wintney, Hants" [2].
  • The IWM have an Oral Interview (catalogue number 3935) recorded with Major William Gordon La Trobe Cockcraft covering the period he served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment and the training of the 4th Bn King's African Rifles in Uganda, Kenya and East Africa, 1938-1942. (He received a Mention in Despatches for distinguished service during this period*). At the very end of the last reel (reel 2) Major Cockcraft states he left them to volunteer for the Commandos [3] .
  • 13 August 1949 Major Cockcraft retired from service [4].
Sources
[1] CVA Gallery images in training gallery..
[2] Obituaries in Commando Association newsletter 88 (1989).
[3] IWM Oral Interview  catalogue 3935.
[*MiD]  London Gazette 35396, page 7348.
[4] London Gazette 38691, page 3965.
Image: III-SC 180099, Credit The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
 
Notes 
Surname erroneously spelt elsewhere as Cockraft and first name shown as Peter.
 
Photo of Commando in Gallery: 
Yes
Archive pages : 
Commando Training WW2

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