Alfred Wilcox

For the English cricketer, see Alfred Wilcox (cricketer).
Alfred Wilcox
Born 16 December 1884
Birmingham, West Midlands
Died 30 March 1954 (aged 69)
Birmingham
Buried at St Peter and St Paul Churchyard, Aston
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1905 - 1909, 1915 - ?
Rank Corporal
Unit Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Victoria Cross

Alfred Wilcox VC (16 December 1884 30 March 1954), was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Until 2006, he was the only recipient of the Victoria Cross whose exact resting place was unknown.

He was 33 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 2/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 12 September 1918 near Laventie, France, when his company was held up by enemy machine-gun fire at short range, Lance-Corporal Wilcox rushed to the nearest enemy gun, bombing it and killing the gunner. Being then attacked by an enemy bombing party, the corporal picked up enemy stick bombs and led his company against the next gun, finally capturing and destroying it. Then, left with only one man he continued bombing and captured a third gun. Going up the trench, bombing as he went, he captured a fourth gun and then returned to his platoon.[1]

A nephew was Charles Wilcox GC. In 2006 his nephew John Wilcox, who had attended his Uncle's funeral in 1954, helped historian Chris Sutton in locating his grave in Aston Church. A service was held, and a memorial unveiled on 12 September 2006, 88 years to the day after he captured the guns.

References

  1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31012. p. 13473. 12 November 1918. Retrieved 5 May 2015.

External links

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