Today is the centenary of the death of my paternal great-uncle, Ephraim Cordery.
He was born on 6th July 1891 in Bull Street, Dagenham, Essex, and he was an older brother of my paternal grandfather. He joined the British Army as a regular soldier, and served with the 2nd Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment until his death, aged 24. He never married.
Along with the rest of his regiment, he landed at Cape Helles on 25th April 1915. By this time he had risen to the rank of Corporal (Regimental No.8250), and the London Gazette of 5th November 1915 lists him as having been 'Mentioned in Dispatches'. Unfortunately, by the time of the announcement, he was dead.
It would appear that Corporal Cordery was killed on the first day of the Battle of Krithia Vineyard (6th to 13th August 1915) and that his body was not recovered. His name is recorded on the Helles Memorial.
He was born on 6th July 1891 in Bull Street, Dagenham, Essex, and he was an older brother of my paternal grandfather. He joined the British Army as a regular soldier, and served with the 2nd Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment until his death, aged 24. He never married.
Along with the rest of his regiment, he landed at Cape Helles on 25th April 1915. By this time he had risen to the rank of Corporal (Regimental No.8250), and the London Gazette of 5th November 1915 lists him as having been 'Mentioned in Dispatches'. Unfortunately, by the time of the announcement, he was dead.
It would appear that Corporal Cordery was killed on the first day of the Battle of Krithia Vineyard (6th to 13th August 1915) and that his body was not recovered. His name is recorded on the Helles Memorial.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
For the Fallen
by Robert Laurence Binyon
(1869-1943)
by Robert Laurence Binyon
(1869-1943)
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Finding out things like this help to bring us closer to our history.
ReplyDelete-- Jeff
Bluebear Jeff (Jeff),
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely correct.
One of my father's brothers was named after my great-uncle. Unfortunately he is also now dead (as is my father), and so remembering Ephraim's death also puts me in mind of my uncle and my father as well.
All the best,
Bob
Stu Rat,
ReplyDeleteI think that "The Peacekeepers" would be an admirable family motto.
I one heard a senior army officer say that the primary function of an army was to prevent wars, and that it had failed to achieve that primary function if it had to fight. He added that its second function was to be as well prepared as it could be to fight any enemy should the need arise. Your family seems to have served their country well as peacekeepers.
All the best,
Bob
It takes a chap of a certain sort to carry off the name Ephraim. He certainly seems to have done it credit. Have you seen the despatch he was mentioned in?
ReplyDeleteConrad Kinch,
ReplyDeleteEphraim was born at a time when children were often given good old Biblical names ... unlike today. (Some of the names people give their children often beggar belief. During my career I taught a Wayne Kerr and a Wayne King, as well as Luce Morales. What were their parents thinking when they arrived at the Registrar of Births?)
I have seen a scan of the medal card that identifies the fact that an MID had been made, but no details as to the citation were included.
All the best,
Bob