Extract from the Burnley Express: -

Medallist Presumed Dead.

Mrs Alcock, 2a, Bracewell Street, Burnley, after making inquiries of the Red Cross and other organizations, and anxiously waiting news of her husband, Pte. Walter Alcock, 16304, 2nd East Lancashire Regiment, has this week received official news presuming his death on March 23rd 1918. He was reported missing from that date. A soldier in the Liverpool's, who knew Alcock very well, informed the authorities that he saw the soldier, along with others, lying by the roadside with a severe leg wound. They were hurrying back, as the enemy were advancing in great numbers. He expressed the opinion that Pte. Alcock and his companions, must have fallen into the hands of the Germans.

A communication from the Red Cross, Geneva, stated that his identity disc had been found, but whether it had become detached was not established, and particulars of the whereabouts of the soldier were absent. A soldier named Walter Emmott, who had been at Primrose Bank Hospital, saw Pte. Alcock lying wounded, and thought he must have died from the injuries he saw.

Pte. Alcock enlisted, at the age of 24 years, in September 1914, and went abroad in June 1915. He had been wounded in the shoulder and suffered from dysentery. In April 1917, he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery and had the ribbon pinned on his breast at the front. Before enlisting he was a weaver at Heasandford Mill, and was well known and highly respected. A brother went down in the "Royal Edward" and other relatives have seen service for their country. The diseased leaves a widow, with whom much sympathy is felt, and child.

His brother was 538 Private T. Alcock, of the R.A.M.C., and was drowned in the Aegean Sea on the 13 August 1915. He lived at 21, Godley Street, Burnley.
See Preston Guardian of 21 July 1917 for a similar report.

"Soldiers Died in the Great War" shows: - Killed in action on the 2 April 1918. Born at Burnley, Lancashire and enlisted at Nelson, Lancashire whilst living at Burnley. He had previously served in the Manchester Regiment with the number 11676.

Walter Alcock has no known grave and is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial, France. The entry in the War Graves Register reads, "ALCOCK, Private, Walter, MM, 16304, 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. 24 April 1918. Aged 28. Son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Alcock; husband of Sarah Ellen Alcock of 22, Bracewell Street, Burnley, Lancashire."

M.M., in County and Regimental Museum collection, Stanley Street, Preston, Lancashire.

Return to Thomas Alcock, RAMC.

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