ALCOCK, WILLIAM JOHN (“Jack”)

Photograph with kind permission of the Uttoxeter Advertiser

William was born in Battersea, London and was a brother or Albert and Fred, who also died in action. His family called him 'Jack'.

Before the war he was Apprentice to Mr. H. Willisford and at the time of his enlistment was employed by Messrs. Bell Bros, the well-known jewellers of Doncaster. On enlistment he gave his occupation as ‘Watch Maker’.

He joined-up with his brother Fred at a large recruiting rally in Uttoxeter early in 1915. John was 24 years and 2 months old on enlistment.

His Attestation paper were signed at Doncaster on 26th of October 1914.

Unlike his brothers, William went into the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment (9th Battalion) and served as Private, number 18553.

At the time of army medical (27th October 1914) he was 5ft 4 inches tall, weighed 125 lbs and had a chest measurement of 35-37 inches.

His complexion was described as ‘Fresh’, his eyes brown and his hair dark brown.

He gave his religion as Church of England.

His Pension Record exists, but it was badly damaged in the Blitz of London in the Second World War. Some of the documents are difficult to read, but it is possible to piece together some of his postings as follows:

Home Service (i.e. British Mainland)                                              26th October 1915-26th August 1915

 Frensham(?) Camp                                                        29th October 1914

 Aldershot Barracks                                                         1st December 1914

 xxxxx Kent                                                                       2nd March 1915

France                                                                                                  27th August 1915

 14 days Field Punishment No. 1                                   16th November 1915

 24 Field Ambulance - Admitted with Scabies             18th  February 1916

 To 7 Casualty Clearing Station                                      21st  February 1916

- Isolation                                                                           

 To duty                                                                               28th  February 1916

 20 Field Ambulance                                                         25th  March 1916

Admitted with Septic Right Foot

25 Field Ambulance                                                         26th  March 1916

Admitted with Septic Right Foot

 To duty                                                                              31st  March 1916

 Missing                                                                              1st  July 1916

William’s Casualty Form – Active William was a patriotic, articulate and religious man, as can be seen from an article that was published in January 1916 by the Uttoxeter Advertiser. They quoted part of a letter that they had received from him. He was acknowledging a Christmas parcel that the townsfolk had sent. They had sent one to every Uttoxeter man who was serving in the forces:

  “May I through your columns kindly thank the townspeople of Uttoxeter for the parcel, which you will be glad to know reached me in perfect condition on Christmas Day. I must also thank the committee and those who assisted in the packing and dispatching of same. I am pleased to know that others and myself – who are not in the local Company – are not forgotten.

I was proud to read of the bearing of the local lads, and I am not wrong when I say that wherever any Uxonians are to be found, they will always be doing their duty. My deepest sympathy is with those who have lost anyone dear to them, yet we are pleased to think that they died for King and Country.

I must now wish all every success in the coming year, and trust in the Almighty God to bring us all safely back to each other and bring this war to a righteous and everlasting peace.”

He was reported missing after going into action on the first day of the Somme on the 1st July 1916. His parents were anxious for news of his whereabouts and appealed for information via the Uttoxeter Advertiser1a, but it was not until April 19171b that his parents received official notification of his death. His brother Albert Harry died in the same battle on the same day.

The Uttoxeter Advertiser’s roll of honour says that he died at Albert (in the Somme).

On 30th June 1917 the War Office wrote to the Officer in Charge of Infantry Records in York, instructing him to despatch any articles of William’s personal property to his father at 22 The Picknalls, Uttoxeter. The letter also instructed that any medals granted to William be forwarded to ‘the same person’. This letter was subsequently stamped ‘No Effects, 4 July 1917. File Attestation’.

In September 1917, the Uttoxeter Advertiser reported that Private Albert Booth, another Uttoxeter soldier, had been in the neighbourhood of Albert and seen William Alcock’s grave amongst thousands of others. Private Booth commented that considering all things, he was surprised how beautifully the cemetery was kept.

Unfortunately, his grave must have been destroyed in subsequent fighting because he now has no known grave and his name is recorded on Panel 14B the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

For the purpose of his pension, William was credited with a service period of 1 year and 250 days.