The Man Behind the Medals 

Alfred Wilcox was born on the 16^th December 1884 in Aston, Birmingham, the son of William & Sarah Wilcox. Alfred’s father William was a well-known jeweller, and it was a large family with 7 boys and 6 girls being born. By 1911, Alfred was living away from home in Leyton, Essex, and was working as a diamond mounter. In 1913 he married Ellen Louise Clarke in Aston, and the couple had two children – Leonard & Doris. Alfred was a keen sportsman, especially in cycle racing and in running, being a member of Birchfield Harriers.

Alfred Wilcox VC

At some point before the war, Alfred Wilcox served in the 1^st Volunteer Bn of the Royal Warwicks (as Pte 2147), volunteering into the Royal Bucks Hussars (Pte 205762) on 25^th March 1915. He subsequently transferred into the 2/1^st Bucks (Pte 285242) and joined them on the Western Front in December 1917. At this stage of the war, the 2/1^st Bucks had taken part in the disastrous attack on Fromelles, and then taken part in the battle of the Ancre and Langemarck in 1917. Losses had been high, and no doubt a trained soldier such as Pte Wilcox would have been very welcome

As part of the larger re-organisation of the Army, the 2/1^st Bucks were disbanded in February 1918 and some 300 men were transferred to the 2/4^th Ox & Bucks LI, with Alfred Wilcox being one of them. Promotion to L/Cpl in April 1918 was quickly followed with promotion to Cpl in Sept 1918.  The 2/4^th had suffered during the German offensive in April 1918, but retreated in good order, being moved to the Bethune sector to recover & re-train after this, with a draft of 431 men bringing the Bn up to strength.

On the 12^th Sept 1918, the 2/1^st were with 184 Bgd in 61 Div, serving near Laventie in France. Taking part in a local action, the flank platoon of A Coy were held up attacking a strongpoint known as Junction Post, with heavy machine gun fire pinning the attackers down. L/Cpl Wilcox with just 4 men rushed the nearest gun, killed the crew and disabled the gun. They were then counter-attacked, but Wilcox fought them off using captured German grenades.

Despite by now only having 1 man with him, and with their rifles jammed with mud, L/Cpl Wilcox worked his way up the German trench, putting four enemy machine guns out of action by bombing them and bayoneting some of the opposition. Faced with a strong German counterattack, and with no serviceable weapons, Alfred Wilcox decided on a withdrawal and safely led his only remaining man back to the British Lines.  He was awarded the VC.

Alfred Wilcox VC (right) and Edward Brooks VC (left), both awarded while serving with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

Following this attack, the 2/4^th followed up on the retreating Germans, reaching east of Cambrai by November 1918. On the 2^nd November, there was heavy fighting with the 2/4^th suffering 56 casualties – one of whom was Cpl Wilcox who was shot in the right foot. He was treated in hospital in Britain and was discharged from the Army on 2^nd May 1919, with a Silver War Badge and a small pension for his wound.

By 1939, Alfred & Ellen were living in Sutton Coldfield, where Alfred worked as a transport manager, but in September 1940 he was awarded a licence to run a pub – “The Small Arms” – in Muntz St, Birmingham. He died in March 1954.

Awards: Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Silver War Badge

Victoria Cross (VC). The VC could be awarded to all ranks of the services and civilians for gallantry in the presence of the enemy.