THE VICTORIA CROSS MEDAL GROUP AWARDED TO LANCE CORPORAL ALFRED WILCOX, 4TH BN, OXFORDSHIRE & BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY, HAVE BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY SPINK OF LONDON.
27 April 1999


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Lance Corporal Alfred Wilcox,
2 / 4th Bn, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

  • Victoria Cross
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )


The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Lance Corporal Alfred Wilcox, 2 / 4th Bn, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, were sold at auction by Spink of London. The sale hammer price realised £48,000. The Wilcox VC group was purchased by the Michael Ashcroft Trust the holding institution for the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection and is displayed in the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 15 November 1918 ], near Laventie, France, 12 September 1918, Lance Corporal Alfred Wilcox, 2 / 4th Bn, Oxforshire & 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, Cpl. 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.

Cpl. 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 1918.


Alfred Wilcox died at his home at 31 Arthur Street, Small Heath, Birmingham, on the 30th March 1954, and was buried in an unmarked grave in the St Peter and St Paul Churchyard. A headstone was erected over his grave on 12 September 2006.

Acquisitions

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Iain Stewart, 27 April 1999