Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Awarded on:

December 22nd, 1939

Citation:
"This officer saw service in Palestine during the 1936 disturbances and since his return to this country [Palestine] in November 1938 he has done consistently good work, using his previous experience to the full. On many occasions his aircraft has been hit and sometimes badly damaged by enemy rifle fire. He has always shown fearlessness in attack and a complete disregard for personal safety.

On 12th January 1939, when flying over the village of Safferin, he observed several men who appeared to be armed; he flew lower to investigate and was met with a volley of rifle fire from a band of twelve Arabs who attempted to break out of the village. Flight Lieutenant Bocking took action, and although his aircraft was hit on almost every dive, he killed five of the band and forced the others into hiding in the dense cover surrounding the village. Together with another aircraft he kept flying low over the area still under heavy fire, attempting to locate the remainder of the band, until the land forces arrived and captured the men."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Wing Commander

Unit:

No. 11 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

October 10th, 1941

"Wing Commander Bocking was sent to take over No.11 [Squadron] at the beginning of the Syrian campaign. No.11 Squadron was then in the process of reconstruction with new pilots, crews and aircraft and at the same time had to operate with anything available. By his zeal and energy Wing Commander Bocking moulded the squadron into shape and himself led them on all big raids both by day and night. The majority of his pilots had at that time had no operational flying experience but due to his leadership excellent results were obtained and the bombing in the raids led by him was often exceptionally accurate, two raids, both long and with the very difficult target of Heredere railway bridge in which the formation was being fired on by machine gun posts in the hills above them on either side being typical of the work carried out. By his enthusiasm and leadership the squadron has obtained an esprit de corps and efficiency which cannot but augur well for future operations in which it may be employed."

Second DFC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.