Bert Willcocks was born in Taunton in 1891, one of nine children of Elias and Avis (nee Tucker) Willcocks. 

By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved to Swansea and, after leaving school, Bert worked for the Swansea Education Office before becoming a commercial traveller. By 1911, Bert’s father had died, the family had moved to Roarth and Bert was working as a grocer’s assistant. He played football in the Cardiff Football League and attended Crwys Hall Methodist chapel.

He joined the army at the outbreak of war and went to France in May 1915 as a member of the Army Service Corps. He was killed in action on 28 November 1915 when he was hit by a German shell while manning a canteen just behind the front line. 

He was so well respected by the men and officers of 105 Company that they raised the sum of £6 15/- to raise a brass plaque to his memory. 

The craftsman who was commissioned to make the plaque would not accept payment for it, so the money was given to Bert’s widowed mother. 

The plaque was unveiled in April 1916 in a packed church by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff and remained there until the building fell into disrepair and was closed. The plaque ended up with a private collector in Europe until a local man (who attended the rededication service) bought it back and donated it to the renovated Highfields Church where it hangs in memory of Bert’s sacrifice.

Cpl Willcocks was previously commemorated on the CWGC Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

The remains of Cpl Willcocks were originally recovered from a location southeast of Zillebeke. The war diary makes mention of his wounding only a few yards from where his remains were later recovered.

Thanks to researchers identifying Cpl Willcocks’ final resting place, his grave has now been rededicated and marked with a newly engraved CWGC headstone.