Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Private Arthur Pocock

1894 –29/10/1918

Enlisted Hertfordshire Regiment, died after a mental illness at Hertfordshire County Asylum 1918

  View CWGC record

• Janice Boakes

Arthur Pocock was born in Berkhamsted in August 1894, one of eleven children born Arthur and Jane Pocock. His father was a bootmaker in the High Street. On leaving school he became a clerk in a local factory. Arthur enlisted at Hertford and joined the Hertfordshire Regiment on 17th September 1915, aged 21 years. At the time of his medical examination he was signed off as fit.

He was posted to the 68th Provisional Battalion on 29th January 1916. While stationed at Lowestoft, a medical report was completed which resulted in Arthur being discharged on 22nd March 1916. The discharge claimed he suffered from “mental stupor” unrelated to his Army service. Two years later, on 30th January 1918, a pension appeal tribunal decided otherwise and he was granted a pension.

Arthur was not entitled to any medals, which indicates that he did not serve in a theatre of war. Arthur died on 19th October 1918 at the Hertfordshire County Asylum in Hill End, St. Albans. The cause of death was given as “General Paralysis of the Insane. Duration indefinite. No PM. Certified by A N Boycott MD”. He was 24 years old.