Sergeant William Allcock

Army Number: 8380

Battalion: 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment

Awards: Military Medal

Military Medal
British 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medal

Born in Nottingham. Son of Edmund and Keziah Allcock, of 29, Gordon Road, Nottingham. Husband of Cecilia Allcock, of 6 Dale Terrace, Sneinton Dale, Nottingham. He was an iron polisher prior to enlisting at Nottingham on 21st July 1902 in the 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

He served in India and Singapore until he joined the Reserve on 11th May 1910 in England. He re-engaged on 21st July 1914 and was mobilised on 5th August 1914 to the 2nd Battalion. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 7th September 1914 and went to France on 16th October 1914. He was then promoted to Corporal 3rd January 1915 and Sergeant on 7th June 1915. He suffered shrapnel wounds to his face on 8th August 1915 and was admitted to No.3 General Hospital and Cammiers, France, on 10th August 1915.

He was awarded the Military Medal London Gazette dated 3rd June 1916
“On the 12th March 1916, near Ypres, with an officer and 4 men, he proceeded to bomb the front line trenches of the Germans and all returned in safety. The next morning, however, broke foggy, but through the mist, a German advance post could be discerned about 25 yards in front of the party. Sergeant Allcock accompanied the officer and 3 men to surprise this German group and the 5 of them killed 3 Germans and brought 1 back a prisoner. They also brought back the rifles and helmets of the Germans as well as their telephone apparatus and also cut the wires connecting a mine which the enemy had been preparing”.

He was killed in action during the attack at Guillemont, France, on 16th September 1916, during the Battle of the Somme.

Commemorated Thiepval Memorial, France. Pier and Face 10C, 10D and 11A

Thiepval Memorial, France.

Sergeant Allcock is also commemorated on the following local memorials:-
St. Bartholomew’s Church Roll of Honour (Housed in the Nottinghamshire Archives), Nottingham.
Victoria Embankment War Memorial, Nottingham.