This weekend was remembrance Sunday and most of the Hocking cousins attended the remembrance service at St Johns church in the small village of Langcliffe to pay their respects to Uncle Jack, who was killed in the Second World war.
Our journey North from East Devon began on the Thursday. Shortly after lunchtime we headed to Yeovil to drop off our oddly-shaped caravan carpets to Pro-Tec Flooring in Yeovil. Pro-Tec’s very own Mrs Whippy was commissioned to replicate the set of 3 carpets for our caravan.
After choosing our desired carpet we left Yeovil and headed further North and into the Cotswolds, arriving at the CAMC Broadway site around 5pm. We walked into Broadway and dined at the Crown and Trumpet Inn where we were served decent, honest pub food washed down with a pint or two of Real ale.
Our journey to Wharfedale in earnest began on Friday morning and it took us around 4 hours – arriving at the CAMC site of Threshfield (Long Ashes) around 13:30. Another popular site and the wardens suggested it was a sell-out although the inclement weather appears to have dented the enthusiasm of some campers as there were quite a lot of empty spaces throughout the weekend.
A very wet walk into Grassington which was devoid of tourists and open shops! We ate at the Devonshire (which is the “Drovers Arms” in the television series “All Creatures Great and Small”). The last bus from Grassington to Skipton dropped us off at Threshfield which is a short walk from the campsite.
Saturday morning was a lazy time before we headed to the rugby at the Avenue. Todays fixture would be preceded with the customary meat pie (no gravy and mushy peas for me) before Wharfedale and Fylde would do battle on the rugby pitch. Chocolate cake for Moe. A fast flowing and high scoring game of rugby saw Wharfedale lose by 39 – 43. Lot’s of positives from the Wharfedale performance and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in the company of Phil and Katie who were visiting from Munich. Dinner was at the Gamekeepers Inn close to the Wharfedale CAMC site.
Sunday was an early start for our 1 hour journey across to Langcliffe via Malham. Spectacular scenery and roads totally un-suited for the campervan were made easier by being very quiet. I think we only saw a handful of cars on the hour long journey. The route brought us into Langcliffe down the steep hill where you can see the remnants of gates which apparently provided some early income for my Dad. He and his friends would close the normally open gates on the sight of an approaching car and receive a tip for allowing it through!
Martyn had organised the re-union / wreath and it was attended by 4 of the surviving cousins and their partners.
In case you can’t see the detail in the picture below, the text is:
“John Hepton Hocking (Jack).
Jack was born on 22 May 1915 to Alfred and Mary Elisabeth Hocking. He was the third of their 6 children and they all lived at 1 Howson Lane. Jack was baptised John Hepton in Langcliffe Church on 27 June 1915. Alfred worked as a labourer. Hepton was Mary Elizabeth’s maiden name.
Jack attended Langcliffe school and then won a scolarship to Giggleswick School in 1926.
He left school in 1933, aged 18 and began working at Barclays bank in Skipton. He travelled on the Pennine bus but, according to family legend, was often late as he didn’t like getting up in the morning and then had to run down from Langcliffe to Settle to catch the bus. By 1939 he was working at Barclays Yeadon branch and lodging with the Prince family at their home on the Leeds Rd, Rawdon.
Another family story tells of Jack and some friends going into the church after a New Year’s dance at the Institute. Jack had taught himself to play the piano so he had a go on the church organ whilst his friends tolled the bells before departing hastily!
Sometimes Jack worked as a Beater for the shoots at Langcliffe Hall. He was paid 7/6 (35p) per day.
No 1 Howson Lane.
The bottom photo shows Jack’s parents in the middle with his sister Joan on the right and nephew Barrie.
Following the outbreak of war, Jack joined the army in early 1940 and by 1944, he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 1/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. Just 6 days after D-day, his battalion landed in Normandy. After just a few weeks, Jack was wounded in both legs, having been shot by machine gun bullets from a German Tiger Tank. He was returned home for treatment at the Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester. He recovered and returned to active duty in September 1944.
In October, the 7th Dukes was deployed in the liberation of Roosendsal in Holland. On 4 December the battalion were positioned at Haalderen near Arnhem when they were attacked by 3 companies of the German 6th Parachute Regiment with heavy Spandau and mortar fire.
The fighting which followed was chaotic and went on throughout the night but eventually the enemy was repulsed and the position held.
The 7th Battalion lost 31 men and one of these was Jack. He is buried at the Jonkerbos War Graves Cemetery in Nijmegan. He was 29.
Jack is commemorated on his parents gravestone in Langcliffe churchyard.”
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The remembrance service took place at the war memorial fountain in Langcliffe.
After the service we walked around Langcliffe which is pretty much un-changed from 60 years ago when I used to visit the grandparents at no 1 Howson Lane.
We visited their grave at the churchyard where I helped Nigel lift back up the headstone which has now been restored to a cleaner version by Martyn and Anne. Coffee followed at the Church and then lunch at the Harts Head hotel in Giggleswick.
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We then drove to Shewsbury where we camped at the Love2Stay campsite. Reasonably priced and immaculate modern facilities.
Monday we visited Elmley Castle for tea and coffee at the new home of David and Cathy. David was my business partner for 20+ years.
Martyn has produced the following collage from Remembrance Sunday, November 2025.