The Military

A number of Eacotts have military backgrounds. This is the record as much as has been gathered.
The first mention of possible military service apart from duties as a medieval knight was the listing of Thomas Coots (likely a spelling error) in 1608 as being fit for the militia.

At the time of the fear of invasion by Napoleon, 1797 Henry Eacott was appointed an officer at Gloucester of the Troop of Gentlemen and Yeoman Cavalry.

Uriah Eacott joined the 1st Dragoons in 1804, This was a premier cavalry unit and saw lots of action against Napoleon, mostly in Spain, most certainly he was at Waterloo. He was discharged in 1828 and became a Chelsea pensioner later in life.

Job Acott aka Eacott of Warminster, joined the 13th foot, a Somerset regiment while it was recruiting in Bath in 1817. He was born about 1791. For the next few years the regiment moved about the UK, Channel islands, Edinburgh and Ireland. It departed for India in 1823 landing in Bengal. In 1824 in Burma there was lots of fighting action along the Irrawadi River. Job was discharged in 1826.

Benjamin Aceott, aka Accett of Great Coxwell Berks. (or Coxhall) born 1771 appears to have been a child of 8 when he joined the 40th Foot in 1779. At the time this was not an unheard of practice. At some point he joined the 1st Royal Veterans Battalion until 1814. When it dissolved he took his discharge at age 43. The Veteran's battalion was it appeared, composed of those not quite fit for fighting but capable of other tasks.

Richard Eacott born 1780 in Bratton Wilts. Joined the 15th Dragoons (Light) in 1801 and served until 1814 when he was discharged at age 34. Much of his service was in England except for action in Spain against Napoleon. They were in one serious engagement in 1808. Back in England they did escort duty and quelled the Luddite uprising in the north. Richard may have emigrated to USA.

In 1881 aboard the HMS Asia was able bodied seaman, unmarried, Henry J. Eacott born 1860 at Warminster Wilts.

Charles Eacott of Ontario Canada was a private of the West Kent Militia, Kent County under Captain William Kerry in 1838. He signed his name as Charles Ecot. This group was formed to put down any effort to foment rebellion as had happened the previous year. His pay was 1pound, 17 shillings and 4 pence. Charles was a pioneer settler in1830 from Wiltshire. His son Henry also served in the militia at the time of the Fenian raids in the 1860's. Charles' great grandson Elgin Murphy was killed at Vimy Ridge, in the first World War.

At the time of the Civil War in America, William Henry Eacott was living in Butler County, SW Ohio. He was involved in the reserve militia and wrote in July 1861 requesting that his men wished to become a volunteer regiment. As 2nd Lt. Of Company B, 35th Ohio Regiment he tendered his resignation on June 30, 1863. What ever became of that is not known because at age 27 on Aug 12 1864 his service ended. He would have been in the Union forces at Chickamauga among other places.

Also serving in the Union Army from New York was William Eacott Hilliker a private from Dexter NY who was at the siege of Petersburg. Signed up Jan 21 1864 discharged 1865.

Serving with the Confederate army in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry Company C was Thomas A. Eacott. He joined "The Butternut Boys" August 1862 and first saw battle at Iuka Mississippi on Sept 19 1862 as part of Armstrong's Cavalry Army of West Tennessee and also with McCulloch's Cavalry under Lee and Forrest. He surrendered May 4 1865 in Alabama. During his time in "New Co. C" he was nearly always on the move in Tennessee and Mississippi with his longest posting in the defense of Vicksburg. He died in October 1865.

Commonwealth War Graves

The First and Second World War service records include a considerable number of persons included here is the Debt of Honour Register for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
At first glance it looks like just a list but there are some interesting aspects bearing observation.

EACOTT, A J Private 46767 1 November 1918 32 The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt.) United Kingdom-died Calais Fr. Age 32, John /mary Ann Bethnel Green London
EACOTT, Charles A rthur Private 6987 20 September 1917 24 Australian Infantry, A.I.F
Age 24 parents William James/Mary Ellen of Long Warry Victoria
EACOTT, Edward Walter Serjeant 18831 7 September 1918 44 Welsh Regiment United Kingdom D. Somme age 44 wife Kate of Larkhall Bethnel Green
EACOTT, Frederick Serjeant 6472308 10 September 1943 29 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.) United Kingdom d. Salerno Italy age29 Alfred/alice Rosina wife Irene Margaret
EACOTT, Florence Mary Civilian 1 February 1945 Civilian War Dead United Kingdom
London wife of Walter of Chingford Essex age 42 .....possible buzz bomb fatality
EACOTT, Frederick R Private 10/3114 29 June 1921 40 Canadian Forestry Corps Canadian
died Vancouver, age 40 son of late Robert/Mary of Huntly Glos
EACOTT, Francis Thomas Private 2168 4 January 1917 27 Australian Infantry, A.I.F Australian d. Somme age 27 Joseph Charles/Georgina Longwarry Victoria

 

EACOTT, George Stoker 1st Class D/K 16489 17 September 1939 47 Royal Navy United Kingdom age 47 abord

HMS Courageous ....died at sea at start of the war
EACOTT, Henry Varney Lance Corporal G/7703 4 August 1917 20 The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) United Kingdom age 20 at Ypres William Arthur/Sarah Jane of Erith Kent
EACOTT, HenryWilliam Thomas Private 34958 26 October 1917 27 Royal Warwickshire Regiment United Kingdom age 27 MIA Belgium late Walter/Laura of Reading
EACOTT, J V Bombardier 352779 15 June 1917 32 Royal Garrison Artillery United Kingdom
at Ypres age 32 wife E.M.
EACOTT, Leonard Robert Driver 65011 27 February 1915 24 Royal Field Artillery United Kingdom age 24 of Scarlet Fever Aldershot john/Charlotte wife Alice Rebecca of Cromhall
EACOTT, R Lance Corporal 15059 1 October 1917 22 Leicestershire Regiment United Kingdom
EACOTT, Sidney Private G/6200 6 April 1916 21 Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) United Kingdom age 21 in Belgium AlbertCharles/Ellen was born in London
EACOTT, Thomas Charles Frank Corporal 6146902 18 May 1944 28 East Surrey Regiment United Kingdom at Monte Casino Italy age 28 Charles/Clara
EACOTT-HARRIS, George Henry Civilian 15 October 1940 65 Civilian War Dead United Kingdom age 65 51 Haverstock Rd London ...... blitz bombing casualty
Additional research has not been done on the following
ECOTT, A D Serjeant 1431738 23 July 1944 24 Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. United Kingdom ECOTT, F W Private 302321 21 June 1918 Royal Scots United Kingdom
ECOTT, J B Private 147974 7 June 1940 25 Royal Army Service Corps United Kingdom ECOTT, O M Gunner 11571 24 July 1917 Australian Field Artillery Australian
ECKETT, B J Sergeant 1376454 12 March 1943 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom
ECKETT, E L Serjeant 1630 12 May 1918 25 Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) United Kingdom
ECKETT, F C Able Seaman C/JX 198056 18 November 1942 22 Royal Navy United Kingdom ECKETT, F S Driver 522119 25 February 1919 Royal Engineers United Kingdom
ECKETT, L C Corporal 5391784 7 August 1946 24 Oxford. and Bucks Light Infantry United Kingdom
ECKETT, P Bandsman 7602 14 October 1915 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers United Kingdom ECKETT, S W Private 5745 11 February 1917 The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt.) United Kingdom
ECKETT, T W Flight Sergeant 1895942 27 May 1945 35 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom
ECKETT, U T M Lieutenant 21 February 1919 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom
ECKETT, V G Civilian 19 September 1942 45 Civilian War Dead United Kingdom

Canadian Expeditionary Force - WWI

The following served in the Canadian Army. Enlistment records are online. All the Eacott, Ecott, Acott men were born in England. All the Acott were born in Kent. Alfred William Eacott, #721488, and his brother Frederick, # 700256, were in Winnipeg in 1916 and joined up. Frederick changed his mind and did not report for duty. Frederick Robert Eacott , 1013114, born in Gloucester was in British Columbia working as a teamster. Samuel Eacott, 302330, had been born in Surrey but his family had moved to Hamilton Ontario. Edwin James Ecott,# 86111,  joined. The Acott's all born in Kent enlisted across Canada Charles in Manitoba 1917. John in Regina, Thomas H in Montreal in 1914, William in Vancouver with 8 years in the Army already joined in Vancouver.And also John in Toronto. Elgin Murphy son of Margaret Walker (Eacott) joined in Ogema Sask in 1916 and died at Vimy Ridge.

WWII
John Frances (Jack) Eacott joined the Algonquin rifles in 1941 in Timmins ON and transferred to the RCAF. He was stationed in Torbay Nfld as a warrant officer with responsibilities for construction on the base.

Australia (under construction)

The United States

Military records from the USA are not as forthcoming. However these persons from this century have some documentation.

At the time of the Civil War in America, William Henry Eacott was living in Butler County, SW Ohio. He was involved in the reserve militia and wrote in July 1861 requesting that his men wished to become a volunteer regiment. As 2nd Lt. Of Company B, 35th Ohio Regiment he tendered his resignation on June 30, 1863. What ever became of that is not known because at age 27 on Aug 12 1864 his service ended. He would have been in the Union forces at Chickamauga among other places.

Also serving in the Union Army from New York was William Eacott Hilliker a private from Dexter NY who was at the siege of Petersburg. Signed up Jan 21 1864 discharged 1865.

Serving with the Confederate army in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry Company C was Thomas A. Eacott. He joined "The Butternut Boys" August 1862 and first saw battle at Iuka Mississippi on Sept 19 1862 as part of Armstrong's Cavalry Army of West Tennessee and also with McCulloch's Cavalry under Lee and Forrest. He surrendered May 4 1865 in Alabama. During his time in "New Co. C" he was nearly always on the move in Tennessee and Mississippi with his longest posting in the defense of Vicksburg. He died in October 1865.

During the D-day invasion on June 8 1944. Lt. Eacott Allen, returning from a bombing run in his P-51B crashed into another aircraft flown by James F. Scott of 334 fighter squadron cutting off the tail of the other aircraft and caused it t o dive into the ground killing the pilot. Both were part of the 4th fighter group USAF. Lt. Allen crashed behind enemy lines and escaped.

Correspondence in the Byroade papers at the University of Arkansas contain this reference: "Byroade papers contain a pamphlet copy of a secret memorial of General Tanaka of Japan regarding the impending World War, signed by Lt. Col. Eacott S. Miller, P.S.;"

Lt. Col. James Eacott Miller was A-1 or 5th in Command of the IX Bomber Squadron which served in the Mediterranean and the European Theaters of War.This group was composed of B-26 bombers.

Miller, Eacott Berton, b. 09/09/1886, d. 02/08/1954, COL USA, RET, Plot: OS PL5, bur. 02/11/1954, * was buried in San Francisco National Cemetery.

An account of action in the Viet Nam war involving Lt. Eacott a pilot. click here to read.