Cpl Alfred Wilcox VC 2/4Ox and Bucks LI remembered

CPL ALFRED WILCOX VC 2/4th OX & BUCKS LI

On the 12 September veteran Riflemen from the Oxford, Milton Keynes and the London Branches of the Association travelled to Aston outside Birmingham, to pay tribute to Corporal Alfred Wilcox 2/4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. This unique gathering marked the 100th anniversary of Cpl Wilcox’s gallant action at Lavantie in France, that led to his Victoria Cross. It was also good of Mike Marr to join us from his retirement.

The service was particularly evocative with the wreath laid by Col Patrick Lawrence and individual crosses planted successively by veterans to recognise the sacrifice of each of the 13 soldiers from the 2/4th who lost their lives in action on 12 September 1918. For the first time since 2006, it was a great opportunity to honour the second VC from 2/4th Ox & Bucks, who is relatively unknown in comparison with CSM Edward Brooks VC whose gallantry is regularly highlighted in the county and who the A Coy 7 Rifles Army Reserve Centre in Abingdon is named after

The Service was well covered by West Midlands BBC TV. It was led by Revd Philip Nott the Vicar of Aston Parish Church, and he and his congregation made us very welcome. Brigadier Robin Draper, read the citation.

Once again the Buglers Association played a key role in underpinning a particularly moving ceremony, as the bugles echoed amongst the trees surrounding the grave. Our thanks to Former Bugle Major John Plumbridge who travelled from Shrewsbury to play the regimental call, the Last Post, Reveille and No More Parades.

Cpl Wilcox's conspicuous gallantry is best summarised in his citation, which reads:

” For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack when his company was held up by heavy and persistent machine-gun fire at close range.

On his own initiative, with four men he rushed ahead to the nearest enemy gun, bombed it, killed the gunner, and put the gun out of action. Being then attacked by an enemy bombing party, Cpl. Wilcox picked up enemy bombs and led his party against the next gun, finally capturing and destroying it.

Although left with only one man, he continued bombing and captured a third gun. He again bombed up the trench, captured a fourth gun, and then re-joined his platoon. Cpl Wilcox displayed in this series of successful individual enterprises exceptional valour, judgment, and initiative"

Unfortunately, the identity of the 4 men in Cpl Wilcox's section does not seem to have been recorded. The planting of individual crosses for them, however, did ensure that in the spirit of the 100 th

anniversary

‘Everyone Remembered’ campaign, they were not forgotten.

The soldiers who lost their lives on that day were:

Private SYDNEY HAROLD BEUNEY L/Copl JOHN CLARIDGE

Private EDGAR ARNOLD DIXON 19 Private FNU DRAKE 19 L/Cpl EMRYS MORGAN EVANS 23 Private STEPHEN GEORGE EVANS 34 Sjt GEORGE FOWLER MM 25 L/Cpl JAMES BILLING GOLLEY Private JOSEPH HARTLEY 18 Private TOM TAKLE 39 Private REGINALD WILLIAM ALFRED TAYLOR 19 Private ROBERT THORNBER 30 Private ARTHUR SIDNEY WILLIAMS 19

Interestingly as a result of the BBC coverage, Pte Drake's family contacted the branch seeking more details of his service, which while sparse were gladly given, thanks to Ingram Murray and Dino Lemonofides

Finally, it was also gratifying that Cpl Wilcox’s gallantry was highlighted again by fellow Riflemen for future generations in Aston, Oxfordshire and The Rifles and that branch members from 3 branches travelled so far to ensure it was.

Heroes obviously run in the family as Charles Wilcox, a nephew of Alfred, won the George Cross for helping to rescue a man who had become trapped high up on a building in Birmingham in 1949.