William [Henry] Pocock was born on 6 August 1894 in West Ham, London. He served with the 1/23rd (County of London) Battalion, the London Regiment under the Regimental number 7307. This was a Territorial unit, forming part of 142nd Brigade, 47th (London) Division. He would have gone overseas some time after 31 December 1915, but probably prior to March 1917, when the Territorial Force Infantry was renumbered. His potential service with the battalion could have taken in the Battle of the Somme (in which the battalion was engaged at High Wood, and then again at Eaucourt l’Abbaye) in 1916. He was then subsequently transferred to the Somerset Light Infantry, with whom he served under the Regimental number 27470, and posted to the 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, serving with 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. Probably, like 27484 L-Cpl Thomas Snelling, this took place circa 6 November 1916, in which case he potentially took part in the Battles of Arras and Third Ypres.
By March 1918 the 6th battalion had just returned to the line, apparently near Cherisy, going into the line at 11pm on 18 March. This was after ten days' 'rest' in Montescourt, during which time the battalion furnished working parties most days to work on strongpoints. Whilst in the line it supplemented this by wiring and constructing new fire bays in the trench.
The opening German attack of the German Spring Offensive on the 21st was preceded by an intense bombardment commencing at 4.30am. The battalion war diary reports that by 4.40am all signal communications were cut, later communication relying on pigeons, until between 10.35am and 11.10am one officer, six runners and three signallers from battalion HQ determined to fight their way from strong point 'Egypt' to Brigade HQ, one officer, two runners and one signaller getting through.
The war diary (complied, as Captain Frampton, the Adjutant notes, from memory and records available) reckoned 20 officers and 540 men, those manning to forward positions, to have become casualties, the remnants of the battalion falling back to defend Jussy under the command of the 9th Scottish Rifles.
“In the line 21 [March 1918]
At 4 30 am the enemy opened an intense bombardment with all calibre shells, using a new kind of gas shell, result of which was not unpleasant but had the effect of sleeping gas. At 8 30am he finished gas shelling but continued with other shells. It was very foggy. Extra sentries were posted at all points. All signal comms was cut by 4 40 am. At 10 20 am news was recd by runner the enemy was in the front line, Support Coys. BN HQ moved into strong points[sic] Egypt where fighting immediately commenced. 2 pigeons were despatched & papers etc burnt. The enemy at 10 30 am were streaming down the St QUENTIN Road from both flanks & [forced?] into LA FOLIE QUARRY. At 10 35am he was reported to be pushing towards BENAY and LERIZY. 1 officer, 6 runners & 2 signallers commenced to fight their way to Bde HQ with the news to warn strong points. 1 officer reached Bde 11 10AM, 2 runners arriving 10 minutes after, 1 signaller also got [over?] successfully. After which this party were attached to 9 Scottish Rifles in reserve trenches behind Bde HQ. Estimated casualties 20 officers 540 other ranks actually in the front line at the time of the attack.”
Pte Pocock, serving with XV Platoon, 'D' Company, went missing on this date, being reported as such in War Office Daily List No.5587, Report Date 8 June 1918. This list gave his Next of Kin Address as Stratford, E[ast London].
He featured on the Joint War Organisation Enquiries: Missing, Wounded and Dead Personnel list in August 1918, the enquiry confirming that he had gone missing on March 21/1918 and also giving his Company and Platoon.
In reality, he had become a Prisoner of war, this finally being confirmed in War Office Daily List No.5727, Report Date 20 November 1918. In this list he featured as 'Casualty Listed as Previously reported missing, now reported Prisoner of War in lists received from the German Government'.
He passed through prisoner of war camps at Stendal and Zerbst, German records giving his place of capture as ‘Moy’. He gave as his next of kin Mr H Pocock, 17 How Street, Stratford, London.
Per War Office Daily List No.5775, Report Date 18 January 1919 he was listed as 'Released Prisoner of War from Germany, arrived in England'.
After nine more months on the strength of the army he was demobilised and transferred to the Army 'Z' Reserve on 12 October 1919.
After the war he married Nellie Pocock, and by 1921 was an Assistant Steward formerly working for the Blue Star Line, although as of April that year he was out of work. By 1939 the couple were living in North Witchford, Cambridgeshire. William being employed as a railway crossing keeper, with a presumed son, William E Pocock. William the elder’s death was registered in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire in the third quarter of 1981.
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