11 May 2025
Although momentous events were taking place in Europe and across the world, life in Cocking continued in its slow, peaceful way, as can be seen from these extracts from the local newspapers.
Perhaps the most exciting event was a fire at Crypt Farm, or maybe it was the prize cow that could produce over 2,000 gallons of milk a year.
FARMING
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 11 January 1945
MIDHURST
Damage, estimated at about £600, was caused by fire to a barn and contents (unthreshed barley and a threshing machine) on Mr C.Y. Vickery’s farm at Cocking on Friday. There was no water in the vicinity, and the Midhurst section of the N.F.S. went there with a mobile dam unit.
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 29 March 1945
FARM SERVANTS
TRACTOR DRIVER wanted. Must understand his job. Good house, mains water and electric light, on bus service in village with school and shops. – C.Y. Vickery, Sherbourne House, Cocking
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 12 April 1945
FARM SERVANTS
COWMAN (UNDER) wanted for Sunwool Farm, Cocking. Must be a good, clean milker, fill up time on farm. Small cottage provided, electricity and water. Close to school, shops, and bus. – A. Rusbridge & Son, Lagness, Chichester.
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 12 April 1945
FARM SITUATIONS
TRACTOR DRIVER requires situation, experienced in all duties, good cottage essential. – Olives, Old House Cottages, Cocking, Midhurst.
Sussex Express: Friday 30 November 1945
High Prices for Bulls
One of the most successful collective sales of bulls held in Sussex this year took place at Chichester recently, on the occasion of Messrs. Stride and Son’s annual autumn sale. Out of 62 bulls offered, 61 were sold making an average of £58 12s. 3d – There was an exceptionally large attendance, buyers coming from so far away as Cromer, and trade was very keen.
Top price of the sale was 125 gns. paid by Sir Robert Turing of Chichester, for Mr. G. W Kerry’s (Petworth) non-pedigree Shorthorn bull Histon Wild Prince 40th.
Pedigree British Friesians from Mr. C. Vickery, of Cocking. Midhurst made 115 gns. for Keyfox Majestic to Messrs. Head and Turner (Bury), and 100 gns. for Bushman 2nd from Mr. A. Naylor (Aldingbourne).
Sussex Express: Friday 21 December 1945
Two Thousand Gallon Cow
I learn, writes Mr. Walford Lloyd, that another twice 2,000 gallon British Friesian cow has been produced in Sussex. This is Keyfox Veritas, bred and owned by Mr. C. T. Vickery, of Cocking, Midhurst, who is also a well-known breeder of Southdown sheep.
As a heifer, Keyfox Veritas gave 1,428 gallons in 365 days on twice a day milking. As a second calver, she yielded 2.034 gallons in 347 days, with 3.78 per cent butter fat, seven tests. In her third lactation, she has already produced 2,179 gallons in 248 days, still having a daily output of above four gallons.
This cow traces back to the blood of that wonderful bull, Hedges Second Series P.I.R.M.. We can do with many more such cows in the old county.
MILESTONE GARAGE
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 11 January 1945
APPLIANCES, INSTRUMENTS, ENGINES, &c FOR SALE
SAW BENCH for SALE. 30in. saw. Excellent condition. Price £17 10s – Milestone Garage, Cocking, near Midhurst.
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 11 January 1945
MOTORS, CYCLES &C.
1934 AUSTIN SEVEN SALOON. Five practically new tyres. Re-conditioned throughout. Price £45 – Milestone Garage, Cocking, near Midhurst.
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 11 January 1945
FARM IMPLEMENTS
TRACTOR TRAILERS for SALE. 12ft x 6ft 6in body, 32 x 6 heavy duty tyres. All-steel chassis, complete with detachable sides, ladders, and jack. – Milestone Garage, Cocking, near Midhurst
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 22 February 1945
CARRIAGES, CARTS &C. FOR SALE
RUBBER-TYRED TRAP FOR SALE. suit 14-15 hands. Excellent condition. Price £20. – Arnold, Milestone Garage, Cocking, nr Midhurst.
Unfortunately, Mr Douglas Arnold, the proprietor of the garage found himself in trouble with the police:
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 21 June 1945
STEYNING PETTY SESSIONS
“The van has been in for overhaul. I just jumped in without realising that there was no horn.” said Douglas Arnold, Cocking, when inquiries were made about his driving without a horn at Shoreham.
He was fined 10s.
HIGH HOUSE
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 18 January 1945
COCKING
At the January W.I. meeting, members much enjoyed a social afternoon and tea kindly given by Mrs. Robinson at High House. Peter Blackman (pianist) and Desmond Lawson (violin and ‘cello) gave good performances. A “When we were young” photo competition was won by Mrs. W. Hammond.
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 17 May 1945
CARTS &C. FOR SALE
FOUR-WHEELED TRAP. Good condition. Suit 14-15 h. £15. – Robinson, High House, Cocking.
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 24 May 1945
MISCELLANEOUS
MINIATURE BILLIARD TABLE TOP; (6ft. X 3ft.) in excellent condition. All etceteras. Offers – Robinson, High House, Cocking.
OTHER NEWS
Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 9 February 1945
Ignored Warnings
Three women who were selling holly and mistletoe in Chichester streets, just before Christmas, appeared on four charges of obstructing footways, either with large hampers containing evergreens or by displaying holly wreaths on the pavement. One of them, Rose Frankham, of Heyshott, was fined 5s. for one offence and 10s. for another. Alice Frankham, also of Heyshott, and Daisy Green. of Cocking, were fined 10s. each. It was complained that they persisted in obstructing footways, despite warnings from the police.
West Sussex Gazette: Thursday 26 April 1945
MIDHURST
Among local members of the Forces who were recently repatriated as Prisoners of War were Flt-Lieut. Welch R.A.F. (Stedham); Pte. R. Humphrey (Bepton); Driver S.C. Rowe (Midhurst); Gunner A.H. Thompson (Cocking); Sergt. W.D. Cottingham (West Lavington); and Pte. H. Phillips.
Latest contributions to Midhurst P.O.W. Parcels Fund: Shamrock Inn, Bepton: £3 3s., Swan Inn, Midhurst. £1 5s 6d., Cobden Arms, Cocking, £1 3s.
Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 21 September 1945
MIDHURST
Forty Years at Post Office
Mr. A.H. Dummer, of Bepton, who has just retired from the postal service, spent the whole of his career at Midhurst Post Office, which he entered as a postman 45 years ago. He served under eight postmasters. He is 65, and for the last ten years he has done the Cocking round. A few months ago, he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal.
THE WAR NEARLY TOUCHES COCKING
Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 10 August 1945
Canadian Naval Officers’ Hilarity
After purchasing beer in pint glasses at the Greyhound Inn, Cocking Causeway, on the evening of July 14, Peter Gerald May, Andrew Barry Crawford German, Arthur Bunce Torrie and John Spence, officers in the Royal Canadian Navy, drove off in a car with three of the glasses. They were charged at Midhurst yesterday week with stealing the glasses, and Mr I. Paterson pleaded guilty on their behalf.
They were caught at Harting the next day, when they handed the glasses to the police. May said it was done in a spirit of hilarity, and German called it bravado.
It was stated defendants bore an excellent record, and had been serving in our battleships in the Pacific and had returned for a short course. The occasion in question was their first leave for a considerable time and they celebrated it.
Each defendant was fined £1, and Sub-Lieut. May was also fined £1 for driving the car without a licence.
Worthing Herald: Friday 23 November 1945
The Red Flag
On the Downs running eastward for miles from the Cocking Gap there are the usual War Department notices, asserting that they are being used for gunnery practice and that it is dangerous to approach when the red flag is flying. Now nobody has ever known an occasion when the red flag was not flying; the authorities just leave it there whether firing is taking place or not. In fact, very little firing does take place in this area with the inevitable result that the notices are ignored. A man says to himself, “It is a hundred to one chance against there being any firing. I want a walk on the Downs; I will chance it.”
Apart from bringing Army Regulations into contempt, this laziness in the matter of removing the red flag brings civilians into danger. I remember getting the fright of my life when, walking in a thick mist on the top of the Downs. I heard firing quite close. “They can’t see me,” I thought, “and this may well be the end of me.”
Why court such thrills on a country walk? Because we must walk somewhere and the Sussex Downs have for generations been one of the walker’s sacred places. The War Office might have left them alone. They didn’t, but now that the war is over and England is no longer a country threatened with military invasion, it is not clear why it should be a country burdened with military occupation.