People

Alfred was born in 1888 in Leicester and baptised on 4.12.1889 at St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester. His parents were Alfred Adcock, a commercial traveler, and Sarah Ann (Foxley). He was one of 5 known children –

Alfred Foxley 1888

Eveline Maud 1889

Dorothy Constance 1892

Frank Wilson 1894

Florence Blanche 1895

In 1891 census the family lived at 12 Cobden St., Leicester and in 1901 census they were at 2 Flint St.

In 1902, when Alfred was 14, his mother died and a year later, 1903, his father married Ellen Jane Hart. They had a daughter, Doris Margaret, in 1906.

In 1911 they lived at 243 Humberstone Rd. and Alfred Foxley Adcock, aged 22, was employed as a warehouseman.

Alfred enlisted on 22.11.1915, aged 27, as Private 23319 in 10th Leicestershire Regiment. He later became Private 30626 in the Machine Gun Corps.

He was killed in action on 11.9.1916 in France and Flanders and is on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier & Face 5c&12c).

He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Alfred’s photograph is in Daily Post 29.9.1916.

Andrew was born in 1891 in Barrow-upon-Soar and was baptised on 1.3.1891 at St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester. His parents were George Addison, a tailor, and Louisa (nee Smith). He was one of ten children –

Agnes Louise Marion 1879
Ethel Florence 1880
George Frederick 1882
Archibald Henry 1884
Harold Arthur 1887
Leonard Phillip 1889
Andrew Frank 1891
Albert Edward 1893
Harry Sidney 1897
Ralph 1901

In the 1891 census the family lived in Mornington St, Leicester. In the 1901 census they were at 16 St. Saviours Rd.
In the 1911 census they lived at 10 Lancaster Rd.

Andrew was Corporal 25417 in the 1st Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He was killed in action on 27.1.1917 in France and Flanders and buried in Vermelles British cemetery. He is also commemorated on the family grave in Welford Rd. cemetery, Leicester (cons D 226) and at St. Margaret’s church.

The war diary for 27.1.1917 records that the Battalion relieved the 2nd Sherwood Foresters in the front line, the relief being completed by
11.30 pm. The dispositions were Right A Company, Centre B Company, Left C Company, Support D Company. -?- activity at gaps in enemy wire opposite N&S Craters which gaps our Lewis guns swept at night. Enemy extremely quiet. At 8.15 pm Operational Order number 133 received with further details of the raid. Casualities, 2 other ranks of C Company wounded.

Arthur Allen, born in 1870 was a Shoe Laster, married Sarah Matilda Willson in July 1889, the couple lived at 303 Avenue Road Extension, Clarendon Park. By the 1911 census the couple had 11 children all living at home.

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Albert, Lawrence

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Their oldest son, Herbert, born in 1890, he joined the Royal Horse & Field Artillery 176th Brigade in June 1915 and later posted to France. He survived the war and was eventually transferred to the Army Reserves in May 1919. He married Mabel English in 1922.

Their second son, Arthur, born in 1896 and was their 4th child, was on the troop ship HMT Royal Edward which embarked on 28th July 1915 with 1367 officers and men aboard, it was heading for Moudros on the Island of Lemnos which was the staging point for the Dardanelles. On the 13th August they passed the Hospital Ship Soudan, the German Submarine UB-14 which was off the Island of Kandeloussa saw both ships. It allowed the Soudan to pass and launched a torpedo which hit the Royal Edward in the Stern, it sunk within 6 minutes.

Although figures very it is believed that 864 lives were lost and at least 661 were rescued. The death toll was high as they had just completed a boat drill and a majority of the men were below decks re-stowing their equipment.

On 5th September 1915 the War Office Casualty List stated that Arthur was missing, believed drowned as a result of the loss of HMT Royal Edward, he was aged 20. The Helles memorial in Turkey, includes panels for those lost at sea from the Troopship sunk off Gallipoli. He is also listed on the Clarendon Park Congregational Church War Memorial.

Arthur and Sarah’s third son, and their 6th child, Lawrence born in 1900 was Killed in Action on 11th July 1918 aged 18. He is buried at Houchin British Cemetery in France and his inscription reads ‘He Sacrificed His Life For Others Gone But Not Forgotten Father and Mother’.

Arthur left school aged 12 on 7th October 1898

He is the son of George Allcroft & Eliza(beth) Withington

1891 Census Thornton Lane, Leicester,

George AllcroftHead MarriedMale 45 1846- Shoe Finisher

Elizabeth AllcroftWifeMarriedFemale 43 1848 – –

Agnes JAllcroftDaughter SingleFemale 14 1877 Leicester, Cigar Makers Assistant

Alice EAllcroftDaughter SingleFemale 13 1878 Leicester, Cigar Makers Assistant

George W Allcroft Son – Male  10 1881 – Scholar

Florence AllcroftDaughter- Female 9 1882 – Scholar

ArthurAllcroftSon – Male 6 1885 – Scholar

Fredrick Allcroft Son – Male 3 1888 –

1901 Census 69, Richmond Road, Leicester,

George Allcroft Head Married Male 54 1847 Leicester, Shoe Operative

Eliza Allcroft Wife Married Female 53 1848 Birmingham, Wks

Agnes Allcroft Daughter Single  Female 24 1877 Leicester, Cigar Maker

Alice Allcroft Daughter Single  Female 23 1878 Leicester, Clerk

George Allcroft Son Single Male 20 1881 Leicester, Porter

Florence AllcroftDaug Single  Female19 1882 Leicester, Shoe Operative

ArthurAllcroft Son Single Male 16 1885 Leicester, Bookkeeper

Frederick Allcroft Son Single Male 13 1888 Leicester,

WilliamWithington Visitor Single  Male 48 1853 Birmingham, Wks,Painter

1911 Census 3 Erith Road Leicester, Leicestershire,

George Allcroft Head Married Male 65 1846 Fish Salesman Leicester

Elizabeth Allcroft Wife Married Female 63 1848 – Birmingham Wks

Alice Allcroft Daughter Single Female 33 1878 Shoe Operative Leicester

Florence Allcroft Daughter Single Female 29 1882 Shoe Operative Leicester

George Allcroft Son Single Male 30 1881 Gas Stoker Leicester

Arthur Allcroft Son Single Male 26 1885 Rubber Hand Leicester

Fred Allcroft Son Single Male 23 1888 Trimmer Hosiery Leicester

My thanks to Douglas Johnstone for his help with this soldier

Date of Death: 28/10/1914

Panel ReferencePanel 51 and 53.

YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Arthur left school aged 12 on 7th October 1898. He is the son of George Allcroft & Eliza(beth) Withington.

1891 Census Thornton Lane, Leicester,

George AllcroftHead MarriedMale 45 1846- Shoe Finisher

Elizabeth AllcroftWifeMarriedFemale 43 1848 – –

Agnes JAllcroftDaughter SingleFemale 14 1877 Leicester, Cigar Makers Assistant

Alice EAllcroftDaughter SingleFemale 13 1878 Leicester, Cigar Makers Assistant

George W Allcroft Son – Male  10 1881 – Scholar

Florence AllcroftDaughter- Female 9 1882 – Scholar

ArthurAllcroftSon – Male 6 1885 – Scholar

Fredrick Allcroft Son – Male 3 1888 –

1901 Census 69, Richmond Road, Leicester,

George Allcroft Head Married Male 54 1847 Leicester, Shoe Operative

Eliza Allcroft Wife Married Female 53 1848 Birmingham, Wks

Agnes Allcroft Daughter Single  Female 24 1877 Leicester, Cigar Maker

Alice Allcroft Daughter Single  Female 23 1878 Leicester, Clerk

George Allcroft Son Single Male 20 1881 Leicester, Porter

Florence AllcroftDaug Single  Female19 1882 Leicester, Shoe Operative

ArthurAllcroft Son Single Male 16 1885 Leicester, Bookkeeper

Frederick Allcroft Son Single Male 13 1888 Leicester,

WilliamWithington Visitor Single  Male 48 1853 Birmingham, Wks,Painter

1911 Census 3 Erith Road Leicester, Leicestershire,

George Allcroft Head Married Male 65 1846 Fish Salesman Leicester

Elizabeth Allcroft Wife Married Female 63 1848 – Birmingham Wks

Alice Allcroft Daughter Single Female 33 1878 Shoe Operative Leicester

Florence Allcroft Daughter Single Female 29 1882 Shoe Operative Leicester

George Allcroft Son Single Male 30 1881 Gas Stoker Leicester

Arthur Allcroft Son Single Male 26 1885 Rubber Hand Leicester

Fred Allcroft Son Single Male 23 1888 Trimmer Hosiery Leicester

Panel ReferencePanel 51 and 53.

YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Arthur Allen, born in 1870 was a Shoe Laster, married Sarah Matilda Willson in July 1889, the couple lived at 303 Avenue Road Extension, Clarendon Park. By the 1911 census the couple had 11 children all living at home.

Their oldest son, Herbert, born in 1890, he joined the Royal Horse & Field Artillery 176th Brigade in June 1915 and later posted to France. He survived the war and was eventually transferred to the Army Reserves in May 1919. He married Mabel English in 1922.

Their second son, Arthur, born in 1896 and was their 4th child, was on the troop ship HMT Royal Edward which embarked on 28th July 1915 with 1367 officers and men aboard, it was heading for Moudros on the Island of Lemnos which was the staging point for the Dardanelles. On the 13th August they passed the Hospital Ship Soudan, the German Submarine UB-14 which was off the Island of Kandeloussa saw both ships. It allowed the Soudan to pass and launched a torpedo which hit the Royal Edward in the Stern, it sunk within 6 minutes.

Although figures very it is believed that 864 lives were lost and at least 661 were rescued. The death toll was high as they had just completed a boat drill and a majority of the men were below decks re-stowing their equipment.

On 5th September 1915 the War Office Casualty List stated that Arthur was missing, believed drowned as a result of the loss of HMT Royal Edward, he was aged 20. The Helles memorial in Turkey, includes panels for those lost at sea from the Troopship sunk off Gallipoli. He is also listed on the Clarendon Park Congregational Church War Memorial.

Arthur and Sarah’s third son, and their 6th child, Lawrence born in 1900 was Killed in Action on 11th July 1918 aged 18. He is buried at Houchin British Cemetery in France and his inscription reads ‘He Sacrificed His Life For Others Gone But Not Forgotten Father and Mother’.