Private Barry Cocks

Army

Leader, Saskatchewan

Born: June 16, 1922

Died: July 17, 1944 Commemorated at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery Calvados, France

Barry Cocks was the fourth born of seven children in the family of David and Esther Cocks of Leader, Saskatchewan. Barry was working in his father’s dray business in 1942 when he was called up for NRMA training in Regina, Saskatchewan. He was sent into action at Camp Vernon in 1944.

Barry was part of the Regina Rifles, a regiment of the 3rd Canadian Army. On D-Day, the Regina Rifles landed on Juno Beach, Nan Green Sector. They had been tasked to capture Caen, which was French city 10 miles from the coast of Normandy.

Barry was killed in action by a snip- er, near Caen. When Barry was shot, his good friend Alfred Nagel also of Leader, Saskatchewan, was able to carry him to the safety of a church. This is the place that Barry passed away. The pastor of the church promised Barry that he would send his pack back to Canada to his father. The pastor kept his word and his pack arrived back in Leader for Barry’s father, David.

Cocks Lake, along the Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan border is named in his honor (Latitude 59 31; Longitude 105 32).