Stories from the Station: William Alcock, Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve

Welcome to the first installment of Stories from the Station. At Admiralty House, we know that we play an important role in the preservation of history. From the historic building we work in, to the artifacts and records we keep safe from the ravages of time to our exhibits and programs, we are constantly working to ensure that our many stories are remembered and honoured. 

At the museum, a considerable amount of our time is spent talking about HM Wireless Station Mount Pearl, which makes sense, without the station we would have no building to be in. This new monthly series, Stories from the Station, will provide an in-depth look at the lives of the men who worked at HM Wireless Station during its operation. We are excited to share these stories with you, and we hope that this project allows us to expand our knowledge about the lives that were built at the station. 

We also want to hear from our readers - if you can add to our profiles, have images or family stories about the men stationed at HM Wireless Station Mount Pearl or want to learn more yourself - give us a call at 709-748-1124 or email us at admiraltyhouse@mountpearl.ca. 

William Alcock (1895-1968)

Date of Birth: September 28, 1895

Place of Birth: Leading Tickles, NL

Date of Death: 1968

Burial Place: Forest Road Anglican Cemetery, St. John’s, NL

 

NRNR ID: 2072x

Enlistment Date: April 15, 1916

Served at HM Wireless Station: April 15, 1916 - December 31, 1918

Position: Guard

 

Appearance (as described in Service Record⁷)

Height: 5’5 ½ 

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Blue

Complexion: Fresh

 

Early Life

William Alcock was born on September 28, 1895^2,4, in Leading Tickles, Newfoundland and baptized on October 20, 1895^2,4. His parents, Uriah and Lavinia (Noseworthy) Alcock, had been married the year before, on June 12, 1894^1,3. Although a young couple by modern standards, Uriah (aged 26) and Lavinia (aged 25) were older than many of their compatriots when they were married. Lavinia had already been married and widowed before her relationship with Uriah¹. 

William's birth (highlighted in grey) was recorded in the 1895 Register of Births²

 

Originally a small fishing and lumbering community⁶, Leading Tickles, was a booming commercial centre when William was born, with a population around 400⁶ in the mid-1890s. Growing up, William would likely have been surrounded by extended family - the leading family names in the community were Alcock, Noswworthy, Peddle, Rousell and Ward⁶. These families even influenced the geographical names in the local area, with Alcock Island and Noseworthy Point nearby.

Leading Tickles, Newfoundland and Labrador

William had several younger siblings including, Pearce (b. September 13, 1899-1901⁸), Uriah Jr. (b. 1 August 1903^5,11), Ivy Belle (b. June 16 1905^5,11) and Israel Wallace (b. December 29, 1909^5,11). The household would have been bustling with so many young children around. 

 

Service in the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve

One month before William’s 19th birthday, Britain declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary, catapulting Newfoundland into the First World War. Two years later, in April 1916, William enlisted in the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve⁷. William’s younger brother Pearce also enlisted in military service, as a lumberman in the Newfoundland Forestry Companies, serving from 1917-1919⁸. 

 

Some or all of William’s service was completed at HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl⁷. This unique posting saw William and his fellow Reservists, guarding the top-secret wireless station. Over his two years of service at the station, William would have met people from across Newfoundland, as well as England. Although life at the wireless station was often isolated and quiet the reservists at HM Wireless Station often travelled to St. John’s for entertainment during their free time. They also played sports on the grounds of the station and visited with neighbouring families such as the Parsons. 

The identities of the men in this photograph are unknown. It was taken at HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl in November 1918. 

William Alcock was working at the station during this time period and may be one of the men in this image.

Marriage and Family

Shortly after the war ended and William demobilized from the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve⁷ he married Lillian (Lily) Jones of St. John’s. They were wed on February 19, 1919, in St. John’s⁹. At the time of their marriage, Lily was 20 years old and worked as a saleswoman and William was 23, working as a fisherman⁹. Lily was a Methodist and William a member of the Church of England⁹. Their nuptials were witnessed by a Mr. Charles Moss, and Miss. Blanche Jones, presumably the sister of Lily⁹. 

After their marriage in St. John’s, William and Lily returned to Leading Tickles where they spent time living with William’s parents¹¹. Shortly after their marriage, they welcomed the arrival of their first child, Pearce (or Pierce) in 1919¹¹. Their daughter Florence was born in late 1920, and in 1921 they were still living with Uriah and Lavina, as well as several of William’s siblings in Leading Tickles¹¹.

 

Sometime between 1921 and 1935, the family relocated to St. John’s where they lived at 37 Lemarchant Road. During this time 6 more children joined the family: Gordon (b. 1922), Jean (b. 1924/5), Mildred (b.1925), Lillian (b. 1927), William (b. 1929) and Ruby (b. 1934)^13d. 

At the bottom of the page is the entry for William Alcock and his family living at 37 Lemarchant Road^13d

In 1938, William lost his father Uriah, who passed away in October at the age of 70¹⁵. 

William and Lily welcomed their first grandchild in 1942. Joyce Alcock was born to their eldest son Pierce and his wife Margaret that year^16d.

 

In 1945, William was 50 years old and working as a grocer. Many of his children were still living in the family home including Gordon (21) working as a longshoreman, Florence (23), Jean (20), Mildred (20) who was working as a saleslady, Lillian (18) who was an office worker, William (16) who was working as a printer and Ruby (11) ^16a. 

 

The family made their last move to 13 Long’s Hill shortly after the 1945 census was taken¹⁹. Several tragedies befell the Alcock family over the next few years. On August 4, 1949, William’s youngest child, Ruby, died at age 14 ½ of tuberculosis¹⁷. Only three years later, Lily, passed away on July 29, 1952, at the age of 53¹⁸. Both Lily and Ruby were buried in the Mount Pleasant Protestant Cemetery (Section G, Row 4)¹⁸. 

 

Following Lily’s death, William remarried, to a woman named Marie²⁸. Their wedding took place sometime between 1953 and 1957^20,21. William worked as a “collector” for these years before retiring sometime between 1958 and 1962^{19,20,21,23,24}. William lost his mother in 1957²⁸; Lavinia was 88 years old when she passed. William’s son, Gordon, continued to live with William and Marie while working as a longshoreman and stevedore in St. John’s^{19,20,21,23,24,25,26}.

 

William passed away in 1968 at the age of 73 and is buried in St. John’s at the Forest Road Anglican Cemetery²⁹. 

William Alcock (1895-1986) Family Tree:

Parents:

1. Uriah ALCOCK (b. 1868, d. 12 October 1938), Fisherman
• From Leading Tickles, Newfoundland
• Son of Thomas ALCOCK
2. Lavinia (Randell) NOSEWORTHY ALCOCK (b. 1869, d. 12 December 1957)
• From Leading Tickles, Newfoundland
• Daughter of William RANDELL

Siblings:

1. Pearce ALCOCK (b. 13 September 1900 d. 24 February 1979)
• Served in the Newfoundland Forestry Company during WW1 as a Lumberman
• Served from 23 October 1917 - 30 June 1919
• Wife: Blanche (Jones) ALCOCK (b. September 1894)
• Sister of Lillian (Jones) ALCOCK
• Married on 20 August 1919 in St. John's
• Child: Olive ALCOCK (b. July 1920)
• Lived on Tessier Place, St. John's (1925)
2. Uriah Jr. ALCOCK (b. 1 August 1903)
3. Ivy Belle (Alcock) SHORT (b. 1904)
• Husband: Sidney Short, Cod Fisherman
• Married 24 April 1922
• Children:
• Andrew Pearce SHORT (b. 1923)
• Uriah Lawrence SHORT (b. 1924/1925)
• Livey *Bernie? SHORT (b. 1927)
• Melby Donald SHORT (b. 1928)
• Stanley Randolph SHORT (b. 1930)
• Natalie Bride SHORT (b. 1934)
• Ada SHORT (b. 1936)
• Wavell SHORT (b. 1940)
• Lived in Beaumont South (1935)
• Lived in Green Bay (1945)
4. Israel Wallace ALCOCK (b. 29 December 1909, d. 1993)
• Wife 1: Lillian Melina (Chippett) ALCOCK (b. 1916, d. 6 September 1938)
• Married on 13 February 1935
• Daughter of Bennett CHIPPETT and Johanna "Annie" CHIPPETT
• Child: Hazel (Alcock) BOONE (b. 12 April 1934, d. 2019)
• Wife 2: Gertie (Chippett) HAGGETT ALCOCK (b. 1909)
• Married on 22 April 1940
• Daughter of Alfred CHIPPETT

Wives:

1. Lillian (Jones) ALCOCK (b. around 1900)
• Religion: Methodist
• Siblings: Blanche (Jones) ALCOCK
• Buried: Mount Pleasant Cemetery
2. Marie ALCOCK

Children:

1. Pearce/Pierce ALCOCK (b. 1919), Longshoreman
• Wife: Edith (b. 1919)
• Child: Joyce (b. 1942
2. Florence ALCOCK (b. 1920)
3. Gordon ALCOCK (b. 1922), Longshoreman/Stevedore
4. Jean ALCOCK (b. 1924/1925)
5. Mildred ALCOCK (b. 1925)
6. Lillian ALCOCK (b. 1927)
7. William ALCOCK (b. 1929, d. 1978). Bookbinder/Printer
• Wife: Margaret
• Buried: Mount Pleasant Cemetery
8. Ruby Alcock (b. 1934, d. 4 August 1949)
• Buried: Mount Pleasant Cemetery

References:

1. 1894 Return of Marriages, District of Twillingate, page 290: Uriah Alcock and Lavinia Noseworthy. Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
2. 1895 Return of Births, District of Twillingate, page 273: William Alcock. Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
3. Anglican Mission of Leading Tickles Marriage Records, 1870 – 1960. NL GenWeb, http://sites.rootsweb.com/~cannf/ndtwil_parrec_leadingtickles_marr1870.htm
4. Anglican Mission of Leading Tickles Baptism Records, 1866-1897. NL GenWeb, http://sites.rootsweb.com/~cannf/ndtwil_parrec_leadingtickles_bapt1866.htm
5. Anglican Mission of Leading Tickles Baptism Records, 1898-1935 http://sites.rootsweb.com/~cannf/ndtwil_parrec_leadingtickles_bapt1898.htm
6. Smallwood, Joseph Roberts, Cyril Poole, and Robert Cuff, eds. “Leading Tickles.” In Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, Volume 3., 262–63. St. John’s, Nfld., Canada: Newfoundland Book Publishers, 1991.
7. Service Record: William Alcock, Provincial Archives of Newfoundland, and Labrador, GN 182.13, Reel 3
8. Service Record: Pearce Alcock, 8397. The Rooms Provincial Archives, Military Service Files, https://www.therooms.ca/sites/default/files/alcock_pearce_8397_0.pdf
9. 1919 Register of Marriages, District of St. John’s, page 65: William Alcock and Lillian Jones (1919 02 19). Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
10. 1919 Register of Marriages District of St. John’s, page 76: Pearce Alcock and Blanche Jones (1919 08 20). Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
11. 1921 Census of Newfoundland, District of Twillingate, Leading Tickles West, page 274. NL Grand Banks Genealogical & Historical Data, http://ngb.chebucto.org/C1921/21-leading-tickles-w-tw.shtml
12. 1922 Register of Marriages, District of Twillingate, page 251: Ivy Alcock and Sidney Short (April 24, 1922)
13. 1935 Census of Newfoundland, Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
1. District of Twillingate, Leading Tickles West page 208: Uriah and Lavinia Alcock 
2. District of Twillingate, Leading Tickles West page 208: Wallace and Lily Alcock
3. District of Twillingate, Sop’s Arm exclusive to Shoal Arms Exclusive, page 157: Ivy (Alcock) Short and family
4. District of St. John’s Ward 5, Beck’s Cove to Stewart’s Cove, page 849: William Alcock and family. 
14. 1938 Register of Deaths, District of Green Bay, page 337: Uriah Alcock (October 12, 1938). Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
15. 15. 1945 Census of Newfoundland:
1. District of St. John’s West, Becks Cove to Stewards Cove, page 56-57: William Alcock + family
2. District of Green Bay, Sect. Leading Tickles to Locks Harbour,, page 184: Israel Wallace and family
3. District of Green Bay, Springdale to Port Anon, page 101: Ivy Alcock
4. District of St. John’s, Cochrane Street to Water Street, page 112: Pierce Alcock and family
16. 1949 Certificate of Registration of Death: Ruby Alcock (August 4, 1949). Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
17. Cemetery Transcription, Mount Pleasant Protestant Cemetery: Lillian Alcock and Ruby Alcock. NL Grand Banks Genealogical & Historical Data, http://ngb.chebucto.org/Cemetery/cem-st-johns-mt-pleasant-sect-g-r-1-4-prot-sjc.shtml
18. 1949 Voter List, Electoral District of St. John’s East, Polling Division 5, page 2. Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
19. 1952 Voter List, Electoral District of Grand Falls – White Bay – Labrador, Polling Division Leading Tickles, page 1. Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
20. 1953 Voter List, Electoral District of St. John’s East, Polling Division 5, page 1. Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
21. 1957 Voter List, Electoral District of St. John’s East, Polling Division 5, Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
22. 1957 Voter List, Electoral District of St. John’s West, Polling Division 7, Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
23. 1958 Voter List Electoral District of St. John’s East, Polling Division 5, page 2. Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
24. 1962 Voter List, Electoral District of St. John’s East, Polling Division 5, page 2 Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
25. 1963 Voter List, Electoral District of St. John’s East, Polling Division 5, page 2. Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
26. 1965 Voter List, Electoral District of St. John’s East, Polling Division 5, Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
27. 1968 Voter List, Electoral District of St. John’s East, Polling Division 59, page 2. Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, online record available on Ancestry.ca.
28. Anglican Mission of Leading Tickles Burial Records, 1876 – 1963. NL GenWeb. http://sites.rootsweb.com/~cannf/ndtwil_parrec_leadingtickles_burials1876.htm
29. Find A Grave, Forest Road Anglican Cemetery: William Alcock. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196362081/william-alcock#
30. Obituary: Hazel Mary Boone https://hoskinsfuneralhomes.ca/tribute/details/2152/Hazel-Boone/obituary.html