WILCOX, Edward

Edward Wilcox was born in Wordsley and was living there when he enlisted in the Warwicks Territorials. He joined the 2/6th Battalion in the 61st Division which went to the Western Front in May 1916 and went into action at Fromelles in July. They suffered so badly that they were not in the front line again in 1916. However, they were successful during 1917 in following up the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and in fighting at Langemarck in the Third Battle of Ypres. At the end of 1917 they suffered heavy losses again in the German counter-attack at Cambrai. They were then obliged to face the first great German Spring offensive of 1918 near Cambrai which opened on the 21st March. Private Edward Wilcox was probably one of the earliest casualties on the 20th March while proceeding to the front line. He was killed in action and is commemorated on the Thiepval and Wordsley Memorials.