Page 225 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019
P. 225

 Cpl Alfred Wilcox VC Commemoration 12 September 2018
On the 12 September
veteran Riflemen from the
Oxford, Milton Keynes and
the London Branches of the
Association travelled up to
Aston outside Birmingham.
There they paid tribute
to Corporal Alfred Wilcox
2/4th Battalion The Oxford-
shire and Buckinghamshire
Light Infantry, on the 100th
anniversary of the 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 September1918.
For the first time since 2006, it was a great opportunity to honour the second VC from 2/4th Oxf&Bucks, who is relatively unknown in comparison with CSM Edward Brooks whose gallantry is regularly highlighted in the county and 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. Our President, Brigadier Robin Draper, read the citation and once again the Bugles Association played a key role in making the ceremony especially moving. 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 rejoined his platoon.
Cpl. Wilcox displayed in this series of successful individual enterprises exceptional valour, judgment, and initiative”
Unfortunately, the identity of the four men in Cpl Wilcox’s section does not seem to have been recorded.
The 13 soldiers who lost their lives on that day were:
    Private L/Corporal Private Private L/Corporal Private Serjeant L/Corporal Private Private Private Private Private
SYDNEY HAROLD JOHN
EDGAR ARNOLD
EMRYS MORGAN STEPHEN GEORGE GEORGE
JAMES BILLING JOSEPH
TOM
REGINALD WILLIAM ALFRED ROBERT
ARTHUR SIDNEY
BEUNEY
CLARIDGE
DIXON 19 DRAKE 19 EVANS 23 EVANS 34 FOWLER MM 25 GOLLEY
HARTLEY 18 TAKLE 39 TAYLOR 19 THORNBER 30 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 Lemon- ofides
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 three branches travelled so far to ensure it was.
HE CONTINUED BOMBING AND CAPTURED A THIRD GUN. HE AGAIN BOMBED UP THE TRENCH, CAPTURED A FOURTH GUN, AND THEN REJOINED HIS PLATOON
         THE RIFLES
RIFLES OFFICES AND ASSOCIATIONS 223
Cpl Alfred Wilcox (on right) with CSM Edward Brooks, the two VCs from 2/4th Oxf&BucksLI























































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