Cpl
William Silcock
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1890 |
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Place of birth: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Moulder |
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Religion: Church of Scotland |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 16345 |
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Units: — Royal Scots, 13th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 01/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Keir Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XIII Row: D Grave: 7 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Silcock was born in Falkirk in 1890, the son of David Silcock and Helen Towers Silcock. In 1912, he married Isabella Moodie Silcock. He had 2 daughters, Helen Towers Silcock and Annie Allison Silcock. He already had some military experience as a militia member with the 91st Foot (Argyll & Sutherland Hldrs) and during World War I he served with the 13th Battalion, Royal Scots. The battalion belonged to the 45 Infantry Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. He arrived in France on 24 March 1915. On 31 July 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele began and the division's objective was the capture of the ridge at Frezenberg and then the capture of Hill 35, a slope north-east of Frezenberg. Thomas's battalion was held in reserve. However, the Germans did not sit idly by and they launched a counterattack.
On the afternoon of 31 July, because of this counterattack, the 13th Battalion was sent to Beck House, between Frezenberg and Hill 35 with the intention of consolidating the captured terrain. They were to be relieved in the evening, but this did not materialise. The next day, the Germans launched a counterattack here and the battalion was almost completely surrounded around Beck House. The losses were heavy. 368 soldiers died, were wounded or went missing. William Silcock was killed just west of Keir Farm. He currently rests in Tyne Cot Cemetery.
On the afternoon of 31 July, because of this counterattack, the 13th Battalion was sent to Beck House, between Frezenberg and Hill 35 with the intention of consolidating the captured terrain. They were to be relieved in the evening, but this did not materialise. The next day, the Germans launched a counterattack here and the battalion was almost completely surrounded around Beck House. The losses were heavy. 368 soldiers died, were wounded or went missing. William Silcock was killed just west of Keir Farm. He currently rests in Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Sources 4
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45th Infantry Brigade (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/1946/4. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 28. Sources used |
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Medal Card William Silcock (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War, WO 372/14/212114). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Militia Attestation Papers William Silcock, (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), War Office: Militia Attestation Papers WO 96/1196). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
More information 3
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464616 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=f25ca8fa-29cb-4b8c-a8a5-242b040c684c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4030836 |