Ivor was born in 1896 in Ynystar, Glamorgan, the son of a colliery doctor in the Rhondda. From an early age, he demonstrated a passion for outdoor pursuits, excelling as an enthusiastic cricketer and showing a keen interest in all manner of outdoor sports.

First World War Service

With the outbreak of the First World War, Ivor enlisted as a private soldier in the army on 3^rd September 1914 in Cardiff. His commitment and ability were soon recognised, and by November of that year he secured a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was subsequently commissioned and served as a junior officer at Gallipoli. During his time in theatre, Ivor was wounded when a grenade he was holding detonated prematurely, eventually resulting in the loss of three fingers. His injuries necessitated his evacuation and return home after only about eight weeks on the front.

Following his recovery, Ivor was posted to Salonika in 1918 and then to India in 1919, continuing his service to the British Army in the latter years of the war and immediately afterwards.

Civilian Life and Second World War

By 1939, Ivor was employed by Messrs Watts, Watts & Co in Cardiff, a company that owned a fleet of coal-carrying tramp steamers. Alongside his civilian occupation, he maintained his connection with the military through service in the Territorial Army. When war broke out again, he was called up and took up a position as second-in-command and adjutant of a prisoner of war camp at Favreuil, near Boulogne.

In February 1940, Ivor returned home on leave but was unable to resume his duties at the front because he was seriously ill with kidney disease. This illness was attributed to the after-effects of malaria contracted during his service in Salonika in 1918. Tragically, it was this disease that caused his death at the age of 44 on Friday, 19^th July 1940.

Family and Personal Life

Ivor married Dorothy Glanville Cochrane (née Piggott) of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, in October 1919. The couple had no children. Dorothy’s brother, Percy Piggott, who was also an Old Wrekinian, was killed in France on 28^th May 1918.

Son of Dr Charles Edward Cochrane & Mrs Mary Margaret Cochrane. 

A downloadable copy of Ivor's story is available here.

Revised: October 2025