A Dying Soldier Request Fulfilled

William Samuel Brock was born 31 August 1896, a son of Mr. & Mrs. Joel Washington Brock. He was married to Cora Lee.

Private William Brock[1], who died in France in November, 1918, was buried at Brock's Mill last Sunday morning at 11 o'clock, the funeral services being conducted by the Rev. F. M. Cannon. Mr. Brock was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Joel W. Brock, and was little more than a boy when called to the colors. Mr. Brock saw service on the battlefields and served with distinction as a brave young soldier, but the very day that the armistice was signed he developed influenza, which was followed by pneumonia, and the noble young life soon passed to its heavenly reward. Mr. Brock, before he died, realizing that he could not live, requested that his body be brought back to the old home church yard for burial, and his parents and relatives feel more comforted in the fact that he now sleeps beneath the sod of his own home among his own people. The body, escorted by a young soldier, reached McFarland Saturday afternoon. The casket was draped with the American colors and the large crowd attending the funeral attested the popularity of the young man among his own people. Mr. Brock was not only a brave soldier of his own country, but he had also enlisted under the banner of the Cross and was a soldier of the Master. Indeed, it was said of this noble young man, "He has fought a good fight, he has kept the faith.

My THANKS to Julious Burr for use of this photo

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[1] James C. Pigg, Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1926; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 2001, 55. Tombstone of Private William Samuel Brock; 31 August 1896–10 November 1918, Brock's Mill Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. The Chesterfield Advertiser, March 31, 1921, page 1, col. 3.