William Maloney was born on the 24th April 1892 at number 1 Overton Street, Hulme, Manchester.

He was the second son for Thomas and Jane Maloney and a younger brother for Thomas, who had been born two years earlier. Twelve months after his birth in 1893, his father Thomas senior died, leaving his wife Jane, with no income and two very young children to care for. This made life very hard for her; in those days there was no Social Security. She could not go out to work and leave the children, so she started taking in washing to earn some money. Her mother was prepared to help, but unfortunately her own financial position was not very good. Her family of four were living on her husband's pay as an ostler, which did not amount to much in 1893. She had already taken in lodgers to help pay the rent.

Finding life very difficult Jane decided to pack her belongings and left Overton Street. Manchester and she went with her two boys to stay with relations in Kidderminster where she was born, but things did not work out hence her stay in Kidderminster was short lived and she moved back to Manchester. She found accommodation at number 7 Brunswick Street where she found work as a housekeeper and was able to keep baby William with her. In order to help Jane, her mother Emma with the approval of her husband Thomas Elliott, said they would have young Thomas to live with them. It was agreed that they would change his name to Thomas Elliott, and bring him up as theirs.

Living at number 1 Brunswick Street was a bachelor, Thomas Adcock, a carriage builder by trade, who had moved to Manchester from Long Eaton, Nottingham. Jane met Thomas Adcock and after a short courtship they married on the 15 December 1894 at the Parish Church of Saint Michael, Hulme, Manchester.

Young Thomas grew up with his Grandma and Granddad and was now Thomas (Tom) Elliot, William lived with his mother and step father and was now William (Bill) Adcock but Tom and his brother Bill always kept in touch. They were good pals and used to go about together, even though Tom lived with his grandparents and Billy lived quite a distance away with his mother, stepfather Tom Adcock and his half-brothers and sister, Arthur, George, Ernest and Edith.

On the 15 April 1912 Billy joined the Territorial Army. This was a military force established in 1907. They were also called part-time soldiers because, unlike the regular army, they only paraded once or twice a week, in the evening and occasionally at weekends. They also went to a summer camp for two weeks each year for training. Billy became No. 350008 Private William Adcock. Shortly afterwards Tom also joined the R.A.M.C. (TA) 1/1st Field Ambulance, 42nd East Lancashire Division, Upper Chorlton Road, Manchester. Tom became No. 350154 Private Thomas Elliott (TA).

About this time, rumour of war was the topic of conversation everywhere, especially in the pubs. Tom and Billy were spending more time at the Drill Hall with the territorial army in Upper Chorlton Road, training.

In July 1914 Austria attacked Serbia following the murder of the Archduke Ferdinand. Russia came to the aid of Serbia and Germany to that of Austria. It was about this time that Tom and Billy were called up with the Territorial Army. They spent a few days at the Drill Hall in Upper Chorlton Road, sleeping on the floor at night. They were then moved to an army camp at Turton, near Bolton where they were housed in "Bell Tents". These were large round tents with a central pole, the canvas stretched over the pole, it looked like a canvas bell. A lot of men could sleep in one, because of its shape. They each slept with their feet to the pole. The tents were in fields and it was very muddy when it rained. They were not there long when Germany and Austria declared war on France, as Russia's ally.

Tom and Billy knew there was every possibility they would be separated sooner or later, and sent to different destinations. However, there was a regulation in the British Army at that time which allowed an older brother to claim a younger brother, and have him stationed with him. Thomas took advantage of the regulation and put in an application to have William with him. They were sent for and asked to explain why, if they were brothers, they had different surnames Elliott and Maloney? They explained the circumstances and why their surnames had been changed. It was pointed out to them that, in order to agree to the application, it would be better if they reverted to their registered name, Maloney, while they were in the army. This would avoid any misunderstanding at a later date, perhaps under a different administration. They agreed, and the application was granted. (Tom and Billy remained together throughout the war apart from when Billy went into hospital)

The 42nd East Lancashire Division left Turton camp at 12.30 hours on the 9 September 1914. They arrived at Southampton Docks at 15.30 hours on 10 September. The men lounged about on the platform until 18.00 hours. Then they embarked on RMS Aragon. The ship sailed at 23.00 hours that night. They had no idea where they were going.

We now know that they were the first British Territorial Force (part time soldiers) to be sent abroad and that they were on there way to take part in the ill fated Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey.

They also spent time protecting the Suez Canal in Egypt and after two years they were brought back to the the infamous western front in France, they arrived at the port of Marseilles in France at 9am on the 2^nd of March 1917.

Then after a train journey of two days and three nights to cover the 550 miles, packed eight to a carriage they arrived in the little village of Pont Remy (just outside Abbeville) at 6.15am on the 5th March, and after the heat they had become used to in Egypt they found it very cold and the ground covered in a 2 inch thick layer of snow.

They spent two years fighting in various parts of France (see the Western Front page) before the armistice in November 1918 and they eventually returned to England and were demobbed in March 1919.

After the war Bill took up his life again and married Lily Kilpatrick at the Holy Trinity Church on Stretford Road, Manchester on the 30th of August 1919. They had 4 sons, Arthur, Edward (Ted), Stan, and William (Bill).

During the war and until he filled his book, Bill kept a diary/journal, making notes when able about where they were and what they had done that day. I have transcribed the journal, click on the War Diary/Journal page link on the left to read it.