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{{Short description|English recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
'''Roland Edward Elcock''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] [[Military Medal|MM]] ([[5 June]] [[1899]] - [[6 October]] [[1944]]) was an [[England|English]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Roland Edward Elcock
|birth_date=5 June 1899
|death_date={{Death date and age|1944|10|06|1899|06|05|df=y}}
|birth_place= [[Wolverhampton]], [[England]]
|death_place= [[Dehra Dun]], [[British India]]
|placeofburial=St Thomas's Churchyard, Dehra Dun
|image= Victoria Cross Medal without Bar.png
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{UK}}
|serviceyears=
|rank=Major
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]<br>[[British Indian Army]]
|commands=
|unit=[[The Royal Scots]]
|battles= [[World War I]]<br>[[World War II]]
|awards= [[Victoria Cross]]<br>[[Military Medal]]
|laterwork=
}}
Major '''Roland Edward Elcock''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] [[Military Medal|MM]] (5 June 1899 6 October 1944) was an [[England|English]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.


Elock initially enlisted in the [[British Army]] in october 1914 when he was 15. Being underage for army service he was discharged when his real age was discovered. He worked as a clerk in [[Wolverhampton]] before re-enlisting at the age of 18.
Elcock was born on 5 June 1899. He initially enlisted in the [[British Army]] in October 1914 when he was 15. Being underage for army service, he was discharged when his real age was discovered. He worked as a clerk in [[Wolverhampton]] before re-enlisting at the age of 18.{{cn|date=May 2021}}


He was 19 years old, and an Acting [[Corporal]] in the 11th Battalion, [[The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment)]], [[British Army]] during the [[World War I|First World War]] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
He was 19 years old, and an acting [[corporal]] in the 11th Battalion, [[The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment)]], [[British Army]] during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for his actions on 15 October 1918 south-east of Capelle St. Catherine, Belgium.
Corporal Elcock was in charge of a Lewis gun team, and entirely on his own initiative he rushed his gun up to within 10 yards of enemy guns which were causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance. He put both guns out of action, capturing five prisoners and undoubtedly saved the whole attack from being held up. Later, near the River Lys, this NCO again attacked an enemy machine-gun and captured the crew.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31082|date=26 December 1918|page=15118|supp=y}}</ref>


He later achieved the rank of [[Major (rank)|major]] after enlisting in the [[British Indian Army]] during World War II. He died in October 1944.{{cn|date=May 2021}}
On [[15 October]] [[1918]] south-east of [[Capelle St. Catherine]], [[France]], Corporal Elcock was in charge of a Lewis gun team, and entirely on his own initiative he rushed his gun up to within 10 yards of enemy guns which were causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance. He put both guns out of action, capturing five prisoners and undoubtedly saved the whole attack from being held up. Later, near the River Lys, this NCO again attacked an enemy machine-gun and captured the crew.


His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[The Museum of the Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) and the Royal Regiment of Scotland|Royal Scots Museum]], [[Edinburgh Castle]], Scotland.
He later achieved the rank of [[major]] after enlisting in the [[British Indian Army]] during [[World War II]].

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[Royal Scots Museum]], Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11117004 Find a grave profile]
==Bibliography==
*[[Monuments to Courage]] (David Harvey, 1999)
*[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]] (This England, 1997)
*{{cite book|year=1997|title=The Register of the Victoria Cross|editor-last=Buzzell|editor-first=Nora|location=[[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucestershire]]|publisher=This England Alma House|isbn=0-906324-27-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|title=The Final Days 1918|series=[[VCs of the First World War]]|year=2014|orig-year=2000|publisher=History Press|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|isbn=978-0-7509-5368-9}}
*[[VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918]] (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)
*{{cite book|last=Harvey|first=David|author-link=David Charles Harvey|title=[[Monuments to Courage]]|publisher=Naval & Military Press Ltd|year=2000|isbn=1-84342-356-1}}

{{Royal Regiments of Scotland}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Elcock, Roland Edward}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elcock, Roland}}
[[Category:1899 births]]
[[Category:1899 births]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Wolverhampton]]
[[Category:People from Wolverhampton]]
[[Category:British Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Royal Scots soldiers]]
[[Category:Royal Scots officers]]
[[Category:Royal Scots officers]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:British World War I Victoria Cross recipients]]
[[Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Medal]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:British Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Wolverhampton]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Child soldiers in World War I]]


{{UK-army-bio-stub}}
{{UK-army-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 12:06, 29 October 2023

Roland Edward Elcock
Born5 June 1899
Wolverhampton, England
Died6 October 1944(1944-10-06) (aged 45)
Dehra Dun, British India
Buried
St Thomas's Churchyard, Dehra Dun
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
British Indian Army
RankMajor
UnitThe Royal Scots
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsVictoria Cross
Military Medal

Major Roland Edward Elcock VC MM (5 June 1899 – 6 October 1944) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Elcock was born on 5 June 1899. He initially enlisted in the British Army in October 1914 when he was 15. Being underage for army service, he was discharged when his real age was discovered. He worked as a clerk in Wolverhampton before re-enlisting at the age of 18.[citation needed]

He was 19 years old, and an acting corporal in the 11th Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment), British Army during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for his actions on 15 October 1918 south-east of Capelle St. Catherine, Belgium.

Corporal Elcock was in charge of a Lewis gun team, and entirely on his own initiative he rushed his gun up to within 10 yards of enemy guns which were causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance. He put both guns out of action, capturing five prisoners and undoubtedly saved the whole attack from being held up. Later, near the River Lys, this NCO again attacked an enemy machine-gun and captured the crew.[1]

He later achieved the rank of major after enlisting in the British Indian Army during World War II. He died in October 1944.[citation needed]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Scots Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "No. 31082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1918. p. 15118.

Bibliography

[edit]