ALCOCK, Alfred Thomas


No.27702, Private, Alfred Thomas ALCOCK
Aged 35


7th Bn. King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry
formerly 31248, Rifleman, Rifle Brigade
Killed in Action on Monday, 2nd September 1918


Born 19 January 1883 (Qtr 1 Bury St Edmunds 4a:659), son of James and Harriet ALCOCK (née HOLMES). Baptised St Mary's, Bury St.Edmunds 11 January 1884
His father died in 1890 and his mother married Abraham Robert Moore in BSE in 1891
His sister Fanny Elizabeth was born 28-9-1876 (married George Edward STIFF) and brother James was born on 9-1-1881.

1891 census...Aged 8, he was at 52 Westgate Street with his widowed mother (tailoress); sister Fanny Elizabeth [18] and brother James [10]

1901 census...Aged 18, a bricklayer's labourer, he was at 52 Westgate Street, BSE with his stepfather Robert MOORE [36] a maltster, born Rougham; his mother Harriett MOORE [46]; half brothers Frederick [8] and Robert [6] and half sister Violet; brother James ALCOCK [20] a butcher. All except his stepfather were born in Bury St.Edmunds.

1911 census...In this census his mother was with her new family at 52 Westgate Street, brother James was at 167 Westgate Street with his wife Ellen Mary and their son Cecil James. Alfred has not been found.

The pension card has his mother still at 52 Westgate Street.


He enlisted in BSE. From his medal index card it appears he was initially in the Rifle Brigade. In the absence of his Army history, it is not known when he was transferred.

The 7th Battalion KOSL were moved to the MORY SWITCH for the night of 1st/2nd September, with a strength of 41 officers and 949 OR. Nearly 200 had only just arrived with the battalion and were really in no state for this attack. However they did reach their objective. Casualties were 1 officer killed and 35 ORs, wounded and missing 2 ORs; and 4 officers. 6 ORs missing, 4 officers and 195 ORs wounded, 8 OR gassed, 2 wounded and stayed on duty. A total of 248 casualties





photo Rodney Gibson


Alfred Alcock is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France - panel 8

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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