Pte 22989 Alec William Elcock

• Age: 25
• From: Oswestry
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 22nd October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Alec William Elcock was born on the 10^th April, 1891 Oswestry, Salop. He was the son of William Elcock and his wife Sarah (née Williamson). He was baptised on the 02^nd May, 1891 at Hengoed. His father, born in Shropshire, and his mother, from Chester, married in Chester in 1880 and had thirteen children. His father’s job as a railway signalman must have taken the family to various postings around Shropshire, based on the children’s birthplaces: Whittington, Hengoed, Gobowen, Selattyn, and Oswestry (Herbert was born in Chester). 

Alec was baptised on the 02nd May 1891 at Hengoed, Shropshire. 

William had older brothers Arthur John, William and Albert (both died in infancy), Herbert Sydney, Edwin James, and George Ernest, and younger sisters Mabel Christina, Frances Mary, Clara Louisa, Pretoria May, and Sarah, and a younger brother Tom Hector.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family is found in Chapel Lane, Whittington, Oswestry with nine children. His father, William, is aged 45, a railway signalman, born Claverley, Salop, mother Sarah is aged 39, Arthur 19, a bricklayers labourer, Herbert 15, a railway porter, Edwin 13, George 10, Alec is 9 years old, Mabel 7, Francis 5, Clara 2, and Pretoria 1.

His father appears to have died in 1906, in Oswestry, at the age of 50.

Some time after the Census William and his mother (and many of his siblings) moved to Droylsden, Manchester. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 27 Gate Street, Oswestry. His mother Sarah is a widow aged 50, born  in Chester in 1861. She has nine children living with her, a further three children who had left the house, his brother Herbert is married and living in Liverpool, and Arthur and Edwin are living in Droylsden. Those listed in the household are: Arthur John, born 1882, occupation bricklayers labourer, Herbert Sydney, born 1886  who was a railway porter and Edwin James born 1888, George is aged 20 born 1891 and occupation is a bricklayers labourer, William is aged 18, born 1892, and is an apprentice upholsterer, Louise aged 13, born 1898 has no occupation, May aged 10, born 1901 is at school, Tom aged 8, born 1903 and Sarah aged 6, born 1905 are in the household.

Some time after the census William and his mother (and many of his siblings) moved to Droylsden.

He enlisted on the 10th November 1914, in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22989. He gave his age as 23 years and 7 months and his occupation was a barman. He was described as being five foot five inches tall, weighed 133 lbs, 35" chest. He was of sallow complexion with brown eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. His next of kin was his mother Sarah at 2 Birch Street.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service records show:

07.07.15: Three days confined to barracks for not complying with an order.

07.11.15: Embarked to France with his Battalion.

He was serving in the 20th Battalion (No 4 Company) when he was killed in action on the 22nd October 1916, aged 25, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

20th Battalion War Diary

GUEUDECOURT.

21.10.16 - Digging new trench.

22.10.16 - Completed trench by 4 a.m., was labelled SALMON TRENCH and handed over on relief. 

2nd Lt Maddick was relieved in front line by 2nd Lt Worsley and evacuated sick. Heavy artillery very active, continuous barrage was put on our front line and support trenches. Considerable aircraft activity on both sides during the day. In accordance with 89th Inf. Bde. O.O. No. 62 the Battn. was relieved by the 29th Australian Infantry at 10 30 p.m. the Battalion moving to bivouacs near MAMETZ WOOD arriving about 4 30 a.m. and on 23rd. 

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

William earned his three medals. His Victory Medal was offered for auction in 2014 as part of a set of six (all Liverpool Pals), the lot price £80-£120.

His Army pay of £5 6s 4d and a War Gratuity of £9 went to his mother Sarah. She was awarded a pension of 5/-  pw from 5/6/17

In 1919 his mother provided information on his ten siblings:  Mabel, Louisa, May, Sarah, and Tom were living at home, Herbert was in Aintree, Liverpool, Frances was living in Portsmouth, and Arthur and Edwin had settled in Droylsden (George’s abode is illegible). 

His mother died, aged 67, in 1927.  

William is commemorated on the following Memorials: 

Oswestry Memorial

St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry where his regiment is incorrectly given as the North Staffordshire. 

We currently have no further information on Alec William Edcock. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.