Baptised William Thomas Alcock on the 6th August 1899 in Uttoxeter Staffordshire one of eight children to  his parents  Benjamin Alcock born Leigh, Staffordshire 13.01.1874 and  Alice nee Barnes born Uttoxeter, Staffordshire 02.10.1875.

The 1901 census recorded William as 2 year old at 24 Elgreave Street, Burslem with parents Benjamin ( 27) working as a builders carter and Alice (24) his 3 year old sister Elsie (1898), brother Percy ( 1900) and two of his fathers brothers Thomas (26) and William (29). 

The 1911 census shows the Alcock family now living at 51 Sneyd Terrace, Burslem. Father Benjamin is working as a coal carter, Alice now aged 35 , it is recorded that they have been married 14 years and have 8  children none of whom have died. 

Elsie is living with Aunt Mary and Uncle Frank Buckley in Uttoxeter , William is aged 12 working as a News boy/ School. Percy (Uttoxeter 1900) at school, May ( Burslem 1901) at school,Gladys (Burslem 1903) Beny ( Burslem 1905) Alice ( Burslem 1907) and Thomas ( Burslem 1909). 

The 1921 census records the Alcock family living at 51 Harvey Street Burslem. 

William first joined the military with the graduated training battalion of the Notts and Derby Regiment where he was given service number 107183. We do not know his date of enlistment but can assume it was prior to his 18th birthday as graduated battalions were for soldiers under that age. He would subsequently be transferred to the 2/5th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Insufficient evidence survives to track Williams movements but having been born in 1899 he should not have been mobilised until 1917.

Newspaper reports of the time tell us that he was reported missing in the War Office Weekly casualty lists on the 25th June 1918 but his death is confirmed as presumed on the 15th April 1918 aged only 18.

If we examine the battalion war diaries for the 14th-17th of April 1918 we see that Williams' battalion had just moved into forward positions at Bailleul, specifically an area known as Revelsburg Ridge. Their position was heavily shelled by the enemy prior to an attack being made. Numerous attempts were made by the enemy, over the 3 days, to enter the British trenches. They had limited success and were eventually repelled. The diary tells us that after this engagement a total of 352 men were killed, wounded or missing.

His death is confirmed in the Army Register of Soldiers Effects, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and The Staffordshire Sentinel dated 4th September 1919 where his parents provide details of his funeral ceremony.

For service to his country William was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal

William is commemorated on the PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL Belgium panel 3.

William also appears on the ROYAL DOULTON War Memorial, Burslem

Source citations : 

CWCG certificate 

Forces War Records, UK, WWI, Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923 : accessed 1 Jul 2025), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923. 

Forces War Records, UK, Nominal Index Of All Service Personnel Serving In A Theatre Of War, 1914-1919 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1276/uk-nominal-index-of-all-service-personnel-serving-in-a-theatre-of-war-1914-1919 : accessed 1 Jul 2025), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1276/uk-nominal-index-of-all-service-personnel-serving-in-a-theatre-of-war-1914-1919. 

Forces War Records, WWI, Joint War Organisation Enquiries: Missing, Wounded and Dead Personnel, 1914-1918 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/976/wwi-joint-war-organisation-enquiries-missing-wounded-and-dead-personnel-1914-1918 : accessed 1 Jul 2025), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/976/wwi-joint-war-organisation-enquiries-missing-wounded-and-dead-personnel-1914-1918.

Forces War Records, UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1278/uk-soldiers-died-in-the-great-war-1914-1919 : accessed 1 Jul 2025), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1278/uk-soldiers-died-in-the-great-war-1914-1919

Forces War Records, UK British Army Register of Soldiers Effects 1901-1929 

Forces War Records, WWI, Joint War Organisation Enquiries: Missing, Wounded and Dead Personnel, 1914-1918 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/976/wwi-joint-war-organisation-enquiries-missing-wounded-and-dead-personnel-1914-1918 : accessed 1 Jul 2025), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/976/wwi-joint-war-organisation-enquiries-missing-wounded-and-dead-personnel-1914-1918 . 

Ancestry.com. 1901 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. 

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12621, ED 7, Sch 326; Book: 12621

Christening : Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.