William Allcock

Sergeant William Allcock enlisted 21/5/1902 into the 45th (Derbyshire) Regiment standing 5' 5" and weighing 116 lbs. He served in India and Singapore. He was recalled from the Reserve and served in France from September 1914 and was wounded three times, once in the head, once in a leg and once in a shoulder. He was killed in action in the attack near Guillemont, France; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial

Boots 'Comrades in Khaki', April 1915: Letters from the Lads, 'The Mud Hut. Corporal W Allcock of the Art Dept., who is serving with the 7th Notts and Derby writes facetiously from 'The Mud Hut' wutg a bright description of trench life. 'It is cold', he says, 'and muddy beyond description', so that in his long top boots and wearing the dirt and beard of several days' accumulation he presents a pretty picture. The trenches he now occupies are the worst he has been in, and the rain has been very unkind. He and his comrades are 'like a lot of mud larks, but happy as boys.' In some places the battalion is within 200 yards of the German trenches, but he is about 600 yards distant. He and a couple of other men were taken by the officer to inspect the barbed wire entanglements and to dig a place for an advanced post. 'It was all right, we got back safe, for though the sniper had a shot or two at us he did no harm.' Boots 'Comrades in Khaki', April/May 1916. 'Sergeant W Allcock' (photograph): 'Sergt. Allcock, who recently paid a visit to his old colleagues at Nottingham while spending a short leave at home, is one of the best known of Boots Comrades in Khaki, as well as one in whom the greatest pride in taken. Prior to the outbreak of war Sergt. Allcock was employed in the Art Department; and Mr Revell, the manager there, is perhaps the proudest of all those who are acquainted with the distinguished nature of the services his former helper has given upon the field. Allcock has been out of the front since September 1914, and much of his work has been of a specially perilous nature, as he has been engaged largely in bombing operations. Three times he has been wounded: once in the head, once in the leg, and once in the shoulder, The character of his duties may be gauged from an account of an affair which took place on March 14th last. A patrol, comprising an officer, Sergt. Allcock, and four men, 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. Allcock accompanied the officer and three men to surprise this German group, and the five of them killed three Germans and brought one in 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 with the enemy had been preparing. This is, to say the least of it, risky work, and such as can be performed only by cool, resourceful, and courageous men; and it is a gratification to find that Sergt. Allcock's qualities have not been passed without recognition, as the following notices show. '19th March 1916. 8380 Sergt. W Allcock, Notts & Derby Regiment. Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander have informed me that you distinguished yourself on 12th March 1916 near Ypres. I have read their report with much pleasure. (Signed) -- Major General Commanding -- Division, British Army in the Field.' Also, '28th March 1916. 8380 Sergt. W Allcock, Notts & Derby Regiment. Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander have informed me that you distinguished yourself on 15th May 1915 near Le Touquet. I have read their report with much pleasure. (Signed) -- Major General Commanding -- Division, British Army in the Field' (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref. RB.38)