Royal Navy
Born: 23rd November 1921.
Story
Clifford was the son of Nehemiah Cockerham (1885-1972) and Minnie Milner (1888-1985) who married in Allerton Bywater on 31st October 1908, and lived at 2 Bickerdike Terrace. Before the War, Clifford was a rusk baker, and lived with his parents, and their lodger Samuel Cripwell (pictured below on the left, in front of Minnie and Nehemiah with Mr Parker sat in front). The Cockerhams frequently had lodgers with them, and were actually fined 10s in February 1917 for having two lodgers they hadn’t officially registered as living with them.
During the War, Clifford served in the Royal Navy, and was on British Power Boats, or Torpedo Boats, which sailed alongside battle fleets to attack major enemy warships (below):
Clifford is pictured above on the left with two comrades, and below, further below is his crew.
After the War, Clifford worked as a van driver for Stokes and Dalton Ltd, who were based at Victoria Spice Mills, Leeds. In 1949, May 1949, Clifford was driving a company van in Otley, when he knocked over a 13 years-old girl, Loreen Tatham at the junction of West Busk Lane and Ilkley Road, and the girl later died in Otley Hospital from her injuries. Later the same year, Clifford married Kathleen Smith (1926-1981). Clifford and Kathleen continued to live with Nehemiah and Minnie, and used to go on extended family holidays (Clifford pictured in the foreground below right, with Minnie sat next to Kathleen, with his brother-in-law William Edwards stood behind them. Pictured below left, Clifford sat on the steps of 2 Bickerdike Terrace, with another brother-in-law, Reg Land, who also served in the Royal Air Force.
Clifford and Kathleen had two sons, Neville and Mark, and their families still live in Kippax. Pictured below, Clifford back row centre, with Kathleen left holding Neville on another extended family holiday. Clifford passed away on 1st September 1993.
Kippax Roll of Honour 