John Herbert "Jack" Cock

[neville sutherland]

Today in a NZ regional newspaper, I read an incredible story of a young NZer whose involvement in the Great War is just so inspirational--yet seemingly unrecognized here in NZ or in any aviation forum I'm aware of.
"Jack' Cock, b. Nov 1893 in Nelson, initially enlisted Aug 1914 in the NZ Expeditionary force and landed at Gallipoli April 25 1915. Seriously wounded a few days later, he was sent back to NZ to recover. Indomitably, he returned to active service, was commissioned, and posted to the Western Front, April 1916. A month later, he was again seriously wounded and sent back to England to convalesce. Declared unfit for active service and posted back to NZ, this indomitable man 'arranged' a transfer to the RFC, Sept 1916! He was awarded his Pilot Certificate in Jan, 1917 and then posted to No 60 Squadron based at Filescamp Farm, flying Nieuport 17's.
He didn't survive for long. In a dark day in the squadrons annals, 'A' flight of 5 machines took off at 8:30am, 14 April 1917, on an offensive patrol over Douai. They engaged a pair of 2 seaters and were in turn bounced by a flight of D111's, apparently led by Lothar von Richthofen. In that swirling melee, 4 Nieuports were shot down, one landing successfully and the pilot immediately captured. 2 of the others were seriously wounded, one died a few days later. The 4th, Jack Cock, was killed, his body buried in a communual grave, unidentified until this century. Kurt Wolff was credited with shooting him down.
This is the bare-bones of a 23 year old 'Kiwi's' commitment to his Mother Country--which is what Nzers typically ascribed their allegiance to Great Britain. Can any members furnish more details of this particular engagement, including details of the respondents. The carnage of this 'Great War' must have obliterated many similar stories of great sacrifice and and indomitable courage, but it seems this mans service deserves wider recognition --and acclamation.