No.60261, Private, William ALCOCK
Aged 28
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William ALCOCK was born in Wickhambrook in 1890 on 19th August 1889, (Risbridge Q4) 1889 4A:627), son of
William and Emma ALCOCK (née CLARK).
1891 census...Aged 1, he was at The Duddery, Wickhambrook with his father John William ALCOCK [29] farm labourer born Wickhambrook; his mother Emma [28] born Rede; sister Florence [4] born Wickhambrook and a lodge, Elijah Thoroghgood [27] single, farm labourer born Wickhambrook. 1901 census...Aged 11, he was still at The Duddery with his parents (father now a self employed thatcher); sisters Florence and Emma Amelia [9] born Wickhambrook and cousin Arthur William Alcock [3] born Wickhambrook. Both William and his father are now recorded as John William. His father died in 1902 and his mother married Arthur COOK in 1903 (died in 1917). 1911 census...Aged 21, John William, a farm labourer, he was at The Duddery with his stepfather Arthur COOK [48] farm stock man born Wickhambrook; his mother and sister Alice and half sisters Maud COOK [7] and Alice COOK [6] both born in Wickhambrook. By the time that CWGC completed their records, his mother was living in Hawkesdon, but the pension card put her at The Duddery, Wickhambrook |
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He attested in Bury St. Edmunds on 20th February 1916 and placed in the Reserves, then mobilised on 24th March 1916 in the Royal Fusiliers #27000. He gave
his date of birth as 10th August 1889, occupation- road-man, from The Duddery, Wickhambrook. He was 5 feet 7.5 inches (171.5 cm)tall, chest 33.5" to 36.5" (85.1 to 92.7 cm), weighing
133 lbs (60.3 kg). Flat footed but able to hop, he required dental treatment. Next of kin was given as mother - Mrs Emma Cook of the Duddery, Wickhambrook.
He was transferred to the 101st Company, Labour Corps on 14th May 1917. Although initially the Labour Corps was manned by men whose medical fitness had been downgraded from A1, by April 1917 some infantry battalions had been transferred to the Corps. Although not viewed as front line troops, they were ever present in the front line and suffered the same privations and dangers as the infantry. He was gassed on 13th May 1918 and died on 16th May at one of the several General Hospitals in Le Treport (25 kn NE of Dieppe). His mother completed the "living family" form on 24th May 1919, still living at The Duddery. In addition to herself, (Emma COOK) the living family members were half brother Ernest Cook [14] at the Duddery; sisters Florence HAYGREEN [32] of Ashfield Green, Wickhambrook and Alice Amelia HONEYBELL [27] in Denston and half sister Maud Dorothy COOK at the Duddery.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
