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The Vockins family has been in Hungerford for a very long time.
In the early 20th century, Ephrain and Mary Vockins and their family lived at 90 High Street.
Sadly, this family hold the honour and sadness of having four sons who were killed in the First World War:
- Pte Fredrick Charles Vockins
Ephrain Vockins was himself an old soldier.
- The first son, Pte Albert Edward (2nd Royal Berks Regiment, 6 years service) was killed at Neuve Chapelle, January 1915, aged 24.
- The second son, Pte Edgar W. Vockins, (Royal Marine Light Infantry) was killed at the Dardenelles, May 1915, aged 19.
- The third son, Pte Frederick Charles Vockins (a machine gunner with the Royal Canadian Dragoons) died August 1915 aged 29. He was in the U.S.A., and crossed to British Columbia, Canada, and came to England at his own expense, to join his friends who were on Salisbury Plain, and after some months of fighting was invalided to Netley, and died while undergoing an operation for appendicitis.
- The fourth son, Lce-Corpl. Sidney Vockins (M.M.), Post Office Rifles, a Lewis gunner, was killed in action 23rd March 1917, aged 20. He was awarded the Military Medal for saving a very vital corner with his Lewis gun, and his officer wrote to say what a brave lad he was and that no man in the platoon gave him more assistance in the great battle, and had he lived he would have been recommended for further decoration.
Two other sons were serving:
- Second Air Mechanic Arthur Vockins, R.A.F., of Berkeley Road, Newbury, and
- Pte Alfred Vockins, Royal Wilstshire Regt., of Hungerford.
A seventh son was medically rejected four times.
See also:
- Vockins - A Patriotic Family - produced by the Reading Standard about the Berkshire men serving in the forces (kindly sent January 2023 by The Rev'd Prebendary Michael Vockins, O.B.E.)
The Canal Wharf, 2011