Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 84868 Thomas Wilcock

Age: 30
From: Appley Bridge
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
K.I.A Thursday 10th October 1918
Commemorated at: Vis-en-artois Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 3 & 4

Thomas Wilcock was born in the March quarter of 1888 in Appley Bridge, Lancashire, the eldest son of Joseph Wilcock and his wife Sarah Ellen (née Ashcroft). His parents were both born in Lancashire, Joseph in Tyldesley and Sarah Ellen in Upholland. They had seven children, one of whom died young, all born in Appley Bridge. Thomas had an elder sister Mary, and younger siblings Ellen, Joseph, Sophia, and Henry/Harry.

In 1891 they are living at 4 Speakman’s Yard, Appley Lane, Appley Bridge. His father, 32, is a quarryman, his mother is 36; they have three children, Thomas is 3.

In 1901 they are at 45 Appley Lane. His father, 42, is a self-employed green grocer, Mary, 17, is a housemaid, Thomas is 13, an apprentice clogger, Ellen is 10, Joseph 8, Sophia 6, and Harry 3.

His father appears to have died in 1910 aged 51.

In 1911 they are at 53 Appley Lane. His widowed mother Sarah Ellen, 57, is head of household, Thomas, 22, is a machinist in a stone quarry, Ellen is 20, Joseph, 18, is a stone quarry labourer, Sophia, 15, is a housemaid, Henry is 13, at school. Also in the household is a boarder, Thomas Cooper.

Unfortunately, Thomas’ service record has not survived so the details are not known. We do know that he enlisted in Wigan joining the 14th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 84868.

When he was 29 years old, Thomas married Hannah King in the autumn of 1917 at St. Thomas, Upholland.

It is likely that Thomas transferred to the 18th Bn K.L.R. when it absorbed the 14th Bn in August 1918 and became the 18th (Lancashire Hussars) King’s Liverpool Regiment. The 100 Days Offensive began on 8th August, the Allied offensive which would eventually end the war.

On 7th October 1918 the 18th Bn arrives at the Hindenberg Line at Bony.

From the battalion War Diary:

10th October 1918 - At 0230 hours the battalion moved forward to a position near RUEMONT, and attacked towards LE CATEAU at 0510. Very little opposition was met with at the start but later considerable M.G. fire was encountered. … Our right company was not in touch with the flank, and the troops on the right appeared to be held up by M.G. fire from the railway embankment … A short length of trench on the high ground immediately E. of LE CATEAU was also reported to be held by the enemy. At 0848 the Centre Coy reached K.33.b and pushed a platoon into the N. W. outskirts of LE CATEAU. The right company was temporarily held up by MG and sniper fire, but appeared to be almost in the town itself. Hostile M.G. fire was reported from the direction of Q.10. … Houses in K.28.a were reported to be strongly held by the Bosche, and a patrol was sent out to investigate and deal with them. … During the advance on LE CATEAU considerable difficulty was experienced, owing to a “whizz bang” battery being able to fire over open sights at the troops as they moved up the rise and along a slight valley.

Total Casualties from 7th to 13th October:

Killed – 2 Officers, 18 O.R.

Wounded – 6 Officers, 111 O.R.

Died of Wounds – 1 O.R.

Wounded and Missing – 1 Officer, 20 O.R.

Pte. 84868 Thomas Wilcock was killed in action on 10th October.1918 aged 30. His body was never recovered from the battlefield, or was subsequently lost. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais.

The Vis en Artois Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and who have no known grave.

The memorial was designed by J.R. Truelove, with sculpture by Ernest Gillick. It was unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Shaw on 4 August 1930.

Thomas’ name appeared in the list of Killed in the Weekly Casualty List on 26th November 1918.

His widow Hannah, living at 593 Ormskirk Road, Rosehill, Pemberton, Wigan, received his effects of £18-19-1d, as well as a War Gratuity of £5, and a pension of 13/9d a week.

Hannah remarried in December 1919 to John Robert Hurst .

Sadly, Thomas' British War Medal and Victory Medal were returned in 1923 (this usually happened when the next of kin could not be traced or perhaps refused to accept them).

In 1939 Hannah is living with her husband and son Harold, born in 1922, in Winstanley Road, Billinge, Lancashire. There is also a daughter Nellie, born on 21st January 1918, listed as Hurst.

Thomas is commemorated on the following memorials -

Apply Bridge Memorial

Upholland Memorial

St. Thomas the Martyr Church Plaque, Upholland.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Wilcock, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(109 Years this day)
Sunday 29th October 1916.
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(108 Years this day)
Monday 29th October 1917.
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(107 Years this day)
Tuesday 29th October 1918.
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