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Lot Essay
Sold with a quantity of original photographs, including two of the Great War period, an official 'Honourably Discharged' scroll, this latter hand inscribed to 'No. 285242 Cpl. Alfred Wilcox, V.C., Oxford. & Buckinghamshire Lt. Inftry., also served in Roy. Bucks. Hussars & Roy. Bucks. Cyclist Regt.' (dated 2.5.1919).
V.C. London Gazette 15.11.1918 '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 forward to the nearest enemy gun, bombed it and killed the Gunner. Being then attacked by an enemy bombing party, Corporal Wilcox picked up enemy stick bombs, and led his Company 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 rejoined his Platoon. Corporal Wilcox displayed in this series of successful individual enterprises exceptional valour, judgement and initiative'.
Corporal Alfred Wilcox, V.C., of Aston, Birmingham, was born on 16.12.1884 and was educated locally at the Burlington Street School. A keen pre-War part time soldier, he joined the 1st Royal Warwickshire Volunteer Battalion in about 1905 and served for four years before his work took him to Liverpool where he completed a further three years service. On 25.3.1915 he joined the Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars, but was soon dismounted and attached to the 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry with whom he went to France in December 1917. He was promoted to Lance-Corporal in April 1918 and to Corporal in September 1918.
Near Laventie on 12.9.1918 the 2/4th Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Regiment were ordered to take an enemy position known as the Junction Post which was believed to be heavily defended by machine-guns. Wilcox remembered, 'I was in charge of the leading section; my duty was to cut through the wire and locate the posts. Having got to the wire and successfully cut it, I went back for my section, which I had left in a shell hole 100 yards to the rear, only to find all but one wounded. That one I told to follow me. Getting through the gap I had already cut, and making my way in the trench the enemy was holding, I got into it, and, bombing my way, captured my first gun. Being quite safe from the enemy fire, I still proceeded up the trench, capturing a second gun after a hand-to-hand struggle, in which I bayoneted my man; then bombing a third post, killing five. My own rifle by this time being clogged with mud, I had to resort to German stick bombs, which accounted for a fourth post with its gun. I carried on, driving the remainder of the post right away, leaving behind about 12 dead in all and four guns (one light, three heavy). I then returned to the guns. Finding I could not remove the latter three, I put them out of action, and had to withdraw owing to lack of support and no fire-arms, my own gun having been dumped for the free use of German stick bombs'.
Having been roundly congratulated by the Battalion, his Colonel, the Divisional General, and the Fifth Army Commander, General Birdwood, Wilcox was duly recommended for the V.C. On 2.11.1918 he was wounded, and on 2.5.1919 finally discharged from the Army. In May 1920 he was an honoured guest at a 'smoking-concert' of the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Buckinghamshire Hussars who saw him very much as 'their V.C.' His health was proposed and drunk, and he was asked to recount his Victoria Cross deed. Having decided to keep it brief, the modest hero began: 'I saw a lot of square-heads, as I call 'em, in front of me, and I was after 'em. If I hadn't been after 'em they'd have been after me, and I used more language than the British Army ever learnt ...' Alfred Wilcox, V.C., a keen sportsman and family man, died in Birmingham on 30.3.1951.
V.C. London Gazette 15.11.1918 '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 forward to the nearest enemy gun, bombed it and killed the Gunner. Being then attacked by an enemy bombing party, Corporal Wilcox picked up enemy stick bombs, and led his Company 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 rejoined his Platoon. Corporal Wilcox displayed in this series of successful individual enterprises exceptional valour, judgement and initiative'.
Corporal Alfred Wilcox, V.C., of Aston, Birmingham, was born on 16.12.1884 and was educated locally at the Burlington Street School. A keen pre-War part time soldier, he joined the 1st Royal Warwickshire Volunteer Battalion in about 1905 and served for four years before his work took him to Liverpool where he completed a further three years service. On 25.3.1915 he joined the Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars, but was soon dismounted and attached to the 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry with whom he went to France in December 1917. He was promoted to Lance-Corporal in April 1918 and to Corporal in September 1918.
Near Laventie on 12.9.1918 the 2/4th Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Regiment were ordered to take an enemy position known as the Junction Post which was believed to be heavily defended by machine-guns. Wilcox remembered, 'I was in charge of the leading section; my duty was to cut through the wire and locate the posts. Having got to the wire and successfully cut it, I went back for my section, which I had left in a shell hole 100 yards to the rear, only to find all but one wounded. That one I told to follow me. Getting through the gap I had already cut, and making my way in the trench the enemy was holding, I got into it, and, bombing my way, captured my first gun. Being quite safe from the enemy fire, I still proceeded up the trench, capturing a second gun after a hand-to-hand struggle, in which I bayoneted my man; then bombing a third post, killing five. My own rifle by this time being clogged with mud, I had to resort to German stick bombs, which accounted for a fourth post with its gun. I carried on, driving the remainder of the post right away, leaving behind about 12 dead in all and four guns (one light, three heavy). I then returned to the guns. Finding I could not remove the latter three, I put them out of action, and had to withdraw owing to lack of support and no fire-arms, my own gun having been dumped for the free use of German stick bombs'.
Having been roundly congratulated by the Battalion, his Colonel, the Divisional General, and the Fifth Army Commander, General Birdwood, Wilcox was duly recommended for the V.C. On 2.11.1918 he was wounded, and on 2.5.1919 finally discharged from the Army. In May 1920 he was an honoured guest at a 'smoking-concert' of the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Buckinghamshire Hussars who saw him very much as 'their V.C.' His health was proposed and drunk, and he was asked to recount his Victoria Cross deed. Having decided to keep it brief, the modest hero began: 'I saw a lot of square-heads, as I call 'em, in front of me, and I was after 'em. If I hadn't been after 'em they'd have been after me, and I used more language than the British Army ever learnt ...' Alfred Wilcox, V.C., a keen sportsman and family man, died in Birmingham on 30.3.1951.