Leonard Rockley

He was the only son of Charles and Sarah Mary Ann Rockley. At the time of Leonard's death his parents were living on Winchester Street, Sherwood, Nottingham. However, the CWGC record, which was compiled some years later, gives their address as Shelford Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham.

Member of Windsor Church Choir. He was a member of the Royal College of Organists and organist of St. Chad's Church, Birmingham

He lived in Sherwood and enlisted in Nottingham.

He was killed in action on 7 September 1918 and was buried in Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery (grave ref. 4.I.2). The official citation on his award of the DCM was published in the 'London Gazette' on 15th November 1918: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a bombing attack he went forward in front of the first wave and materially assisted in the capture of eight prisoners and a machine gun. Subsequently when the enemy counter-attacked he exposed himself without any regard for safety to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, and himself accounted for six of the enemy. His fine example of courage and determination materially assisted in the complete repulse of the enemy.” (Courtesy of Jim Grundy's facebook pages)

“Sergeant Leonard Rockley, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rockley, of Winchester-street, Sherwood, was killed in action on 7 September. Born in Nottingham 38 years ago he, when quite young, displayed a taste for music, and became a pupil of a well-known organist in the south. Later on, when his father was engaged on a large est...ate in the south, young Rockley became a member of Windsor Church Choir. Music ultimately became a passion with him, and he studied it closely. Admitted a member of the Royal College of Organists he afterwards became organist of St. Chad's Church, Birmingham.” - 'Nottingham Journal and Express,' 2nd October 1918. (Courtesy of Jim Grundy's facebook pages) St Chad’s was erected in 1841, the first Catholic Cathedral to be built in England following the Reformation of the 16th century. The cathedral was designed by Augustus Welby Pugin.