Ronald Hoaksey

War Service

Ronald Hoaksey was a Private in the Coldstream Guards and died on 28th February 1948 in Crookhill Hall, Conisborough, which was a TB hospital.
At some point during the wat he had been a prisoner of war in Italy and then became prisoner no 259589 in Stalag IV-c Bystrice in the Czech Republic. The camp was located near Wistritz bei Teplitz.
Pontefract & Castleford Express 17 July 1942 (with photo)
“GUARDSMAN MISSING
Mr & Mrs John Hoaksey of 11 Westfield Avenue, Knottingley, have received notice that their eighth son Guardsman Ronald Hoaksey, of the Coldstream Guards, has been posted as missing in the Middle East since June 20th. He is 26, and before he joined the Army, over four years ago, was a glass worker. He was moved to Egypt in June 1939 and has been in the Middle East since then. Guardsman Hoaksey, who belongs to a family of 12, has six brothers and a sister in the Forces.”
Pontefract & Castleford Express 28 August 1942 P3
“SAFE IN ITALY
Guardsman R Hoaksey of Knottingley who was reported in “The Express” on July 17th to be missing, has now sent word to his family that he is a prisoner of war in Italy.”
Pontefract & Castleford Express 12 May 1944 p6
“NEWS AT LAST
After being without news of their son Guardsman Ronald Hoaksey, since the collapse of Italy, where he has been a prisoner of war, Mr and Mrs J Hoaksey of 11 Westfield Avenue, Knottingley, have received a card from him on Monday, bearing the German postmark. The card contained birthday greetings to his brother Percy, who is serving with the Central Mediterranean Forces, and says he is well. Guardsman Hoaksey, who was taken prisoner at Tobruk will celebrate his 27th birthday this month, three days after that of his brother.”
Pontefract & Castleford Express 5 March 1948.
Mr Hoaksey, who died on Saturday at the Crook Hill Sanatorium, Conisborough aged 26 [should be 29], was the son of Mr & Mrs J Hoaksey. He had been in poor health since his return from Germany shortly after VE day, after his release from a prisoner of war camp. He was educated at the Weeland Road School, Knottingley, and from leaving school until he joined the Coldstream Guards on his 20th birthday, he worked at the Crystal Glass Company, Knottingley. He was captured at Tobruk in 1942. Mr Hoaksey was one of a family of nine, of whom seven brothers and one sister all served in the forces. The funeral took place at the Knottingley cemetery on Wednesday after a service at St Botolph’s Church conducted by the Vicar.

Family Life

Ronald Hoaksey was born in the second quarter of 1918 and his birth was registered at Pontefract. (The GRO index has his birth recorded as Noaksey). He was the son of John Hoaksey and Eliza (nee Johnson) who had married in the second quarter of 1902 and this was registered at Pontefract.
Ronald is buried in Knottingley Cemetery and he is recorded on the family stone with his parents, brother George and sister Dot.