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William Ernest Cooksley
William Ernest Cooksley, DCM, MM
6 November 2007
Bill Cooksley served in most of the major actions of the New Zealand Division in World War I after joining the Wellington Infantry Battalion in 1915. He was one of the few soldiers in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to receive more than one gallantry award.
On 14 August 1918, near Puisieux, Corporal Cooksley showed great gallantry, skill and initiative in handling his troops in an advance. He then led a daylight patrol which obtained valuable information about the enemy. He obviously had an extremely busy day as later that same day he captured two prisoners single handed. He set a magnificent example to his comrades and was awarded the Military Medal.
Six weeks after this action, on 29 September 1918, during an attack at La Vacquerie his platoon commander became a casualty. Corporal Cooksley took command of the platoon and in the course of the attack his men captured five machine guns and 40 prisoners. Later that day he again led the platoon to its final objective and deployed it to defend a vital flank which protected a wide gap. For this action Corporal Cooksley was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Corporal Cooksley demonstrated the New Zealand Army characteristics of excellent junior leadership and initiative, as well as the values of courage and commitment. He took command when required and ensured that the aim was carried out by his platoon even though their normal leader was gone. He was a fine example of a junior leader.
Bill Cooksley was born in Palmerston North in 1895. After attending Taikorea School he worked on the family farm at Mangawhata. He also did work as a driver and served in the Territorial Force prior to the outbreak of World War I. With the end of the war Corporal Cooksley returned to New Zealand and was promoted to Sergeant before being demobilized in 1919. He worked in a variety of jobs following his military service, including share-milking at Linton, tree-felling at Taihape and roadwork for the Ministry of Works at Tokomaru. He married Mary Burns in 1922 and raised a family of three children. Bill Cooksley died in Palmerston North in 1965 at the age of 70.
His medals are held at the Army Museum.
This page was last reviewed on 16 November 2007 and is current.
