A HEADSTONE HAS BEEN ERECTED OVER THE PREVIOUSLY UNMARKED GRAVE OF CORPORAL ALFRED WILCOX VC, IN ST PETER & ST PAUL PARISH CHURCHYARD, ASTON, BIRMINGHAM
12 September 2006



First World War hero Alfred Wilcox has finally won recognition in his home city of Birmingham, 88 years after he won the Victoria Cross. For reasons that still remain unclear his grave was never given a headstone and his final resting place in Aston Parish Churchyard has been lost from memory.

Yesterday, thanks to an investigation to track down the "lost VC", a service of dedication was held at St Peter & St Paul Church where Corporal Wilcox, of the 2nd / 4th Bn, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, was buried in 1954. The new memorial stone unveilled on Tuesday, 12th September 2006, simply reads "For Valour. Near this site lies Alfred Wilcox 1884-1954, awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery in France, 12 Sept 1918."

Those relatives attending the ceremony included Alfred Wilcox's son Vincent Nicholls, granddaughter Elaine Read and nephew John Wilcox. Elaine Read and General Sir Edward Jones, chairman of the Regimental Committee of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry both laid a wreath on the base of the new headstone. The standard bearers in attendance were the National Service Veterans Association, the Birmingham and District Royal Artillery Association, South Staffrodshire County Royal British Legion, and the Federation of Ex-Servicemen.


For the award of the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 15 November 1918 ], Near Laventie, France, 12 September 1918, 285242 Private ( Lance Corporal ) 2nd / 4th The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack ( near Laventie, France ) 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, Corporal 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.

Corporal Wilcox displayed in this series of successful individual enterprises exceptional valour, judgment, and initiative.

Alfred Wilcox was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 26th November 1919.

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Iain Stewart, 25 September 2006