Edward Allcock
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Edward was the son of John and Betsy Allcock. His father was born in Mansfield and his mother in Lincolnshire. The registrations of the children's births give the mother's previous name as 'Turner'. John and Betsy have not been identified on census earlier than 1891 and a record of their marriage has not yet been traced. Details on the census, such as ages, vary, and the number of civil records of same names in Mansfield has made it difficult to identify the family. John and Betsy had at least five children: May Ann b. 24 July 1880 (J/A/S Mansfield) bap. 8 September 1880 St John the Evangelist Mansfield, Edward b. 1882 (J/A/S Mansfield), John (aka Jack) b. 3 December 1884 (O/N/D Basford) bap. St John the Evangelist 3 February 1885, George b. 1887 (O/N/D Mansfield) and Amy b. 1890 (J/A/S Mansfield). The baptismal registers for Mary (1880) and John (1885) give their parents' address as Chandler's Court but in 1891 John, a foundry worker, Betsy, Mary (11), Edward (9), John (7), George (3) and Amy (9 months) were living on Welbeck Street, Mansfield. Betsy died in 1895 (O/N/D Mansfield) aged about 45 and in 1901 the widowed John, a bricklayer's labourer, was living at 13 Chandlers Court, Mansfield with four of his children: Edward (18) and John (16), both labourerers, and George (13) and Amy (10) who were both at school. Mary Ann (20), who worked in a tobacco factory, was a lodger in the household of George and Mary Savage at Plantation Road, Mansfield. John snr. was living at 2 Cross Keys Yard, Mansfield, in 1911 and only Edward, George and Amy were still at home. Also in the houseold was Amy's son, John Thomas Allcock (9 weeks, birth registered 1911 A/M/J Mansfield). Edward's brother George attested in September 1914 and gave his address as 2 Cross Keys Yard. His next of kin were his father, of the same address, and siblings Jack [John], Edward and Amy. Although his sister Mary Ann was not named, a report of Edward's death in the local paper in 1917 includes a letter written to his sister, Mrs M Smith, informing her of her brother's death. His brother George enlisted in September 1914 but was discharged, medically unfit, in December the same year (see 'extra information'). John Allcock jnr probably died in 1954 (A/M/J Southwell) while the youngest sibling, Amy, may have died in 1918 (O/N/D Mansfield).
3rd Inf Labour Coy Edward of bronchitis on 14 April 1917 while serving in the Labour Company. He is buried in Bray Military Cemetery (Grave Reference: II G 47). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Mansfield Reporter, 4 May 1917: ‘Private E Allcock Dead. Private E Allcock, popularly known as Fatty Allcock, is dead. His sister, Mrs M Smith [?Mary Ann], of the Horse and Groom Yard, has received the following letter from the No. 3 Labour Company, Lincolnshire Regiment, in France: - No. 3 Labour Company, Lincolnshire Regiment, BEF. 20/4/17. Dear madam, I very much regret to have to inform you that your brother, No. 37042 Pte, E Allcock, of this Company, under my command, passed away on the 14th April, suffering from bronchitis. He was buried in the local British Military Cemetery, near to where we are at present stationed, and I will see that his grave has a cross put upon it. I trust in your sad bereavement it will be of slight comfort to know he died serving his country at the time when the nation is fighting for its existence. Yours, etc. L Middleton, Capt.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his legatees were his brother Jack [John] and sister Amy. His brother George, a labourer at an ironworks, attested on 18 September 1914 aged 27y 10m. He joined the York & Lancaster Regiment (15901 Private) at Pontefract the dame day but was discharged as medically unfit on 2 December 1914. He was discharged to 2 Cross Keys Yard, Mansfield.
No Photos