William Willcox

Was born in 1891 to parents John and Hannah living in Merioneth Street, Windmill Hill. In 1901 and age 10 he was staying in Birmingham with an uncle who was a jeweler by trade. William had two brothers named Harry and Philip. In 1909 and age 18 he enlisted in the army at Bristol, working as a carpenter before this. He served in the 4th battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment as private No. 9674.

His actual service records have survived unlike the majority which were destroyed in WW2 so from these we know that he was 5 ft 6ins tall with grey eyes and brown hair. The records also state that he served one year and 216 days in England and three years and 281 days in India returning to England for 22 days during which time he was promoted to lance-corporal on the 30^th September 1914 in the 2^nd battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment.

The regiment was sent to France and just 44 days later on the 24^th November 1914 William was killed in action, he has no known grave and his name is inscribed on the Le Touret Memorial. In 1926 a letter was sent by his mother living at 26 Raymend Road Windmill Hill to his regiment enquiring about his pension payments which should have been paid, this letter is with his records in the national archives.