GEORGE BYGRAVE ALCOCK
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Born: 17th May 1892, at 54, Lady Lane, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 21st June 1893, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich – family home at 54, Lady Lane, Ipswich.
Died: 9th February 1915; age 22; KiA – south of Ypres. Killed alongside William Ernest Miller.
Residence: 9, Mount Street, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 16th January 1915 – France.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 7964
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War and 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 1.
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of the late Giles & Maria Alcock.
Brother to JOHN HENRY ALCOCK and paternal uncle to 
FRANK KITCHNER ALCOCK.
CENSUS
1901 6, Lady Lane, Ipswich.
George was 9 years old and living with his father & siblings.
Giles Hale Alcock, 59, a Shoe Maker – own account, born Norwich, Norfolk.
Ellen Harriet Alcock, 26, a Nurse Maid, born Ipswich.
Henry Thomas Alcock, 20, a Coal Porter, born Ipswich.
William Thomas Alcock, 18, a General Labourer, born Ipswich.
Thomas James Alcock, 16, an Errand Boy, born Ipswich.
Elizabeth Rebecca Alcock, 13, born Ipswich.
1901 George’s mother was a visitor to 70 year old Mary Mellonie and her five nieces and nephews at her family home – 3, Bramford Lane, Ipswich.
Maria Alcock (nee Bygrave), 49, a domestic Nurse, born Norwich.
1911 Barrosa Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, Surrey.
George was 18 years old, a Soldier, ranked Private with the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.
George’s father, Giles Hale Alcock, died on the 17th April 1914 in Ipswich and was buried in Section FF, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Soldiers’ Effects to Maria – mother, Giles John Alcock – stepbrother, Henry Alcock and William Alcock – brothers, Maria Salway, Ellen Atkins, Henrietta Hutchings & Elizabeth Brooks – sisters, Alice Kate Alcock – sister-in-law.
George is also remembered on the handwritten war memorial at The Mission Free Church, Curriers Lane, Ipswich.
E.A.D.T – Tuesday, 14th January 1913 – A SOLDIER’S CRY – FOUND WITH WOUNDED THROAT – Considerable alarm was occasioned in Mount Street, Ipswich, about 10 o’clock on Monday by a young soldier named George Alcock, who, it is alleged, attempted suicide by cutting his throat with a razor in his parents’ home at No. 9.
It appears that whilst his parents and sister were chatting in the front room of the house, they were startled by a cry from George, who was in the back kitchen, summoning his sister’s help. On going into the kitchen, Miss Alcock found her brother with a blood-stained razor in his hand, and blood oozing from a throat wound. The young fellow made no attempt to injure himself further; he threw the instrument away and fell in a semi-conscious condition into his sister’s arms. Police-constables Southgate and Foster were called to the house and rendered first aid. Mr. G. M. Hetherington, the Police Surgeon, was promptly in attendance and stated that the wound was not as serious as was at first supposed. It consisted of a gash about two inches long across the throat. George was removed, after temporary treatment, on the Police horse ambulance to the Hospital.
It was ascertained that George Alcock, who is barely twenty years of age, is a private in the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, stationed at Aldershot, from whence he was to leave in a few days to Egypt with the Battalion. His father is more or less an invalid, and this has made him adverse to undertaking the journey to Egypt, and the fact that his parents have endeavoured to get George out of the Army suggests that his going away preyed heavily upon his mind, and prompted him to commit the rash act. Inquiries made at the Hospital at a late hour on Monday night show that the wound was of a shallow nature and not likely to be attended with fatal consequences.
E.A.D.T. – Tuesday, 26th August 1913 – AN ABSENTEE – On Monday, 25th August 1913, George Bygrave Alcock, a private in the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, stationed at Aldershot, appeared before Mr. Alexander Gibb (in the chair), and Mr. W. H. Calver at the Ipswich Police Court, charged with being an absentee from his regiment P.-c. Charles Birch said he saw George in Westgate Street on Sunday evening and suspected he was an absentee. He challenged him, and he could not produce his pass. Later, George admitted that he had absconded at Tattoo on Friday evening. The defendant was put back to await the arrival of an escort.
Extract from Lt-Col C.C.R.Murphy History of the Suffolk Regiment:
Throughout February 9th 1915, the enemy shelled unremittingly one part or another of the Verbrandenmolen sector. The trenches held by the 1st Battalion were in a shocking state, those on the right being two feet deep in water. Battalion headquarters, despite the attention it received from the enemy’s artillery during the afternoon, remained intact.
Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion:
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