Lancelot Slocock
Encyclopedia
Lancelot Slocock (1886–1916) was a rugby union international who represented England
from 1907 to 1908. He also captained his country.
, Warwickshire
, the third son of the Reverend F H Slocock and his wife Judith. He was educated at Marlborough College
and at school made a name as an all-round athlete playing in the rugby fifteen as well as the cricket and hockey elevens.
and made a name for himself as a lineout jumper. He was selected for the North in the North v South match, and this being one of the main England trials at the time, was selected to play for England against the touring South Africans in December 1906. However, due to a clerical error Slocock was omitted from the side and his position was taken instead by Arnold Alcock, a medical student at Guys Hospital. Slocock did face South Africa in their next match, against Lancashire
, a county for whom Slocock would eventually win fourteen caps. Slocock scored a try in this match, although the tourists won. Slocock made his international debut on January 5, 1907 at the Athletic Ground, Richmond
in the England
vs France
match. Slocock again crossed the line to score in a match England won by forty one points to thirteen. He was selected for the rest of England ’s 1907 international season and was one of the only outstanding England players in the Wales match at Swansea on January 12th where England lost 22-nil. The Times recorded “the English forwards had periods of relative success, and the efforts of some of them, notably L.A.N. Slocock…. deserved a better fate.” Slocock again scored in the next match in Dublin, but was on the losing side with Ireland winning 17-9. England ’s final match of the season was held at Blackheath against Scotland, which the visitors won by three points to eight, claiming the championship and retaining the Calcutta Cup
.
Slocock played in all matches in the 1908 season, beginning with a win on January 1 over France at Colombes
. England's next match was at Ashton Gate
in Bristol to meet with Wales and Slocock was part of the pack regarded as the strongest pack England had fielded for some time. The loss to Wales was 18 points to 28, and Wales would go on to win the grand slam that year. Ireland then defeated England at Richmond. The final match of the international season was against Scotland at Inverleith on March 21 and this proved to be Slocock’s last game for England. As well as playing for England he had been secretary of the Liverpool club for the 1907-8 seasons. Slocock captained the side and scored a try, though this was not enough to wrest the Calcutta Cup from the Scots.
, Georgia
. However, Lancelot returned to the motherland to fight in the First World War. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
in the 1/10th Battalion of the King's Regiment (Liverpool), a Territorial Battalion, more commonly known as Liverpool Scottish. He arrived in France in January 1916, joining his battalion, the 1/10th, as part of the 55th division. He was then to take part in the Somme offensive, and was involved in the push to capture the village of Guillemont
. The first attacks in this area on August 8 had failed and was followed by further attacks on the 9th, two of them made by the 1/10th Battalion of the King’s Regiment. Second Lieutenant Lancelot Slocock whilst leading his men in one of these attacks was killed in action. Another former international, Lance Corporal J A King, also serving with the 1/10th Battalion, died in the offensive. They were two of the eighty two thousand casualties incurred in this part of the campaign, resulting in a total advance of one thousand yards.
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
from 1907 to 1908. He also captained his country.
Early life
Lancelot Andrew Noel Slocock was born on Christmas Day 1886 in Wootton WawenWootton Wawen
Wootton Wawen is a small village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The village is located on the A3400, from Birmingham, miles south of Henley-in-Arden and miles north of Stratford-upon-Avon. The soil is a strong clay and some arable crops are grown,...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, the third son of the Reverend F H Slocock and his wife Judith. He was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and at school made a name as an all-round athlete playing in the rugby fifteen as well as the cricket and hockey elevens.
Rugby union career
Slocock joined one of the oldest Rugby clubs in England, Liverpool FCLiverpool St Helens F.C.
Liverpool St Helens Football Club are a rugby union team formed from the merger of Liverpool Football Club and St. Helens RUFC. The club currently plays in North 1 West....
and made a name for himself as a lineout jumper. He was selected for the North in the North v South match, and this being one of the main England trials at the time, was selected to play for England against the touring South Africans in December 1906. However, due to a clerical error Slocock was omitted from the side and his position was taken instead by Arnold Alcock, a medical student at Guys Hospital. Slocock did face South Africa in their next match, against Lancashire
Lancashire County Rugby Football Union
The Lancashire County Rugby Football Union is the society responsible for rugby union in the county of Lancashire, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1881...
, a county for whom Slocock would eventually win fourteen caps. Slocock scored a try in this match, although the tourists won. Slocock made his international debut on January 5, 1907 at the Athletic Ground, Richmond
Athletic Ground, Richmond
The Athletic Ground, Richmond, is a rugby ground home to National League 2 South side Richmond F.C. and the RFU Championship side London Scottish...
in the England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
vs France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
match. Slocock again crossed the line to score in a match England won by forty one points to thirteen. He was selected for the rest of England ’s 1907 international season and was one of the only outstanding England players in the Wales match at Swansea on January 12th where England lost 22-nil. The Times recorded “the English forwards had periods of relative success, and the efforts of some of them, notably L.A.N. Slocock…. deserved a better fate.” Slocock again scored in the next match in Dublin, but was on the losing side with Ireland winning 17-9. England ’s final match of the season was held at Blackheath against Scotland, which the visitors won by three points to eight, claiming the championship and retaining the Calcutta Cup
Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. It is currently England's since the 2009 Six Nations Championship....
.
Slocock played in all matches in the 1908 season, beginning with a win on January 1 over France at Colombes
Colombes
Colombes is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:On 13 March 1896, 17% of the territory of Colombes was detached and became the commune of Bois-Colombes ....
. England's next match was at Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
in Bristol to meet with Wales and Slocock was part of the pack regarded as the strongest pack England had fielded for some time. The loss to Wales was 18 points to 28, and Wales would go on to win the grand slam that year. Ireland then defeated England at Richmond. The final match of the international season was against Scotland at Inverleith on March 21 and this proved to be Slocock’s last game for England. As well as playing for England he had been secretary of the Liverpool club for the 1907-8 seasons. Slocock captained the side and scored a try, though this was not enough to wrest the Calcutta Cup from the Scots.
Life outside sport
Slocock has a seemingly premature international retirement, but this was due to his career in the cotton trade, requiring frequent trips abroad, most commonly to the United States. As amateurs, business took priority over sport. He married in 1912 Lena (Elinor) Cook, and they had one son, Anthony, born in 1914. The family moved to SavannahSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. However, Lancelot returned to the motherland to fight in the First World War. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 1/10th Battalion of the King's Regiment (Liverpool), a Territorial Battalion, more commonly known as Liverpool Scottish. He arrived in France in January 1916, joining his battalion, the 1/10th, as part of the 55th division. He was then to take part in the Somme offensive, and was involved in the push to capture the village of Guillemont
Guillemont
Guillemont is a commune roughly 8 miles east of Albert in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It, like much of the surrounding area, is primarily an agricultural community, but is known for its large cemetery, which has become a tourist attraction...
. The first attacks in this area on August 8 had failed and was followed by further attacks on the 9th, two of them made by the 1/10th Battalion of the King’s Regiment. Second Lieutenant Lancelot Slocock whilst leading his men in one of these attacks was killed in action. Another former international, Lance Corporal J A King, also serving with the 1/10th Battalion, died in the offensive. They were two of the eighty two thousand casualties incurred in this part of the campaign, resulting in a total advance of one thousand yards.