Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Escaper’s’ M.M. awarded to Private J. Hocking, 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, who was taken Prisoner of War at Sanctuary Wood, Ypres, on 2 June 1916, and escaped captivity in September 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (113295 Pte. J. Hocking. 4-Can. Mtd. Rif.) cleaned, very fine £300-£400

M.M. London Gazette 30 January 1920:
‘In recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity.’

John Hocking was born in Cornwall on 26 December 1895 and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary force at Kingston, Ontario, on 31 July 1915. Posted to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles he served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 January 1916, and was taken Prisoner of War following the German attack on Sanctuary Wood, Ypres, on 2 June 1916. Initially held at Dulman P.O.W. Camp, he was subsequently held at camps at Minden, Munster, and Burgsteinfurt.

Hocking made his first escape attempt on 26 August 1917, as he records in his de-briefing report: ‘On 26 August three of us escaped. We dug through the cellar of the munitions factory, in which we were working, into the cellar. As a result the river flooded the factory. We were out for seven days, and then we were caught one nigh by a policeman with a dog. We were taken back to our own commando, and papers were prepared for a court-martial upon us for escaping and damaging Government property.

Hocking made his second (and successful) escape attempt on 7 September 1917: ‘We were sent to work in the fields. The Unter Offizier had taken away our boots, and we had on our slippers, and over them our clogs which they issued on commando. We took our soup at midday. It was hot, and the Unter Offizier, who was sitting in the field watching us, fell asleep. We clicked our sabots together, and as he did not wake up Harrison and I ran for it in our slippers. The Unter Offizer awoke and fired three rounds at us. We got away into a bush and saw them searching for us with dogs. They did not find us, and on the ninth day we reached Holland, having been chased several times on the way.’

Arriving back in Canada, Hocking was discharged at Toronto on 15 April 1918.

Sold with a comprehensive file of copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.