Boyns Hedley Hocking (1887 - 1942)

Born 23 Dec 1887 in Rupanyup, Victoria (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Florence Elizabeth Fraser (Taylor) Hocking — married 1917 in Victoria, Australia

Died 19 Feb 1942 at age 54 in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Dentist Boyns Hocking was killed in action during World War II.

Boyns Hedley Hocking was born on 23rd December 1887 in Rupanyup, Victoria (Australia). He was the son of William Hocking and Louisa Baker. ^[1] His younger sister, born in 1890, died in infancy leaving Boyns an only child.

After completing his formal education in Healesville, Victoria, Boyns entered the University of Melbourne, completing a dental degree whilst working at the Melbourne Dental Hospital.

Boyns opened his own dental business.

Boyns married Florence Taylor in 1917 in Victoria. ^[2] The couple subsequently had two children, John (Jack) and Jean.

On 31st May 1940, Boyns was commissioned as a dentist in the (Royal) Australian Army Medical Corps, initially serving in the Australian Military force (Militia) before transferring to the Australian Imperial Force, his nation's expeditionary force for the fast-escalating Second World War, in December 1941. ^[3] Both his children joined the services, Jack in the Royal Australian Air Force in March 1941 and Jean in the Australian Women's Army Service in January 1942. Posted to the 2/1st Hospital Ship, AHS Manunda, he took up station in Darwin Harbour and was there when the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the harbour, town and air fields on Thursday, 19th February 1942. Although clearly marked as a hospital ship, the Manunda took direct hits from bombs, killing twelve crew and hospital staff, many patients and wounding some forty others. Aged 54 years, Boyns was one of those to lose his life. His body was never recovered. ^[4]

Boyns Hedley Hocking's name is located at panel 87; Supplementary panel 10 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, the Adelaide River Northern Territory Memorial, the Cenotaph at Hawthorn and the Melbourne Cricket Club WW2 Honour Roll. ^[4][3][5]

Boyns was survived by his wife, who remained a widow until her death in 1970, and their two young adult children. Both his children served their country during the war, Jack in the Royal Australian Air Force and Jean in the Women's Army.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #6293/1888
2. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #8970/1917
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: VX68883 (V84374) Captain Boyns Hedley Hocking; accessed 17 Jun 2024
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Australian War Memorial roll of honour:VX68883 Captain Boyns Hedley Hocking; accessed 17 Jun 2024
5. ↑ Virtual War Memorial Australia: Hocking, Boyns Hedley; accessed 17 Jun 2024

See also

• WikiTree: Battle of Northern Australia; accessed 21 Jun 2024.