Pte Bertram Cockerell was enlisted into The Royal Norfolk Regiment and later volunteered for airborne forces during World War II.He qualified as a military parachutist on Course 64, which ran at RAF Ringway from 10 to 21 May 1943 and later served in No 3 Platoon, A Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion.

Pte Cockerell deployed on operations with the battalion to Italy and Arnhem, where he was captured and held as a prisoner of war.