WW1: The Men on the Alford War Memorial

The stories of the men on the Alford War Memorial were originally researched for the 100 year commemorations of World War One. A small service was held at St Wilfrid’s church on the one hundred year anniversary of each man’s death including the sounding of the last post. They are all different, they all gave the ultimate sacrifice, we will remember them.

Many more men and women with Alford connections appear on memorials around the Country while countless others returned home with lifelong mental and physical injuries to endure.

1914

Private Charles Ernest Yates: 1st September 1914

Charles Ernest Yates was born in Grittleton, Wiltshire around 1884. The eldest son of Eli and Elizabeth Yates he was one of ten children. They grew up around the Marlborough Downs in Wiltshire, Their father worked as a blacksmith and Charles became a groom.  He married Annie Dobson and they had two children, a son Walter (born in Wilts in 1908) and a daughter named Lucy (born in Alford in 1912).

Charles served as a private in the 1^st (Kings) Dragoon Guards (KDGs) before the war, the 1911 census lists him as stationed in India, the KDGs did not reach France until November 1914.  Private Yates sailed for France with the regiment of the 5^th (Princess Charlotte of Wales) Dragoon Guards, part of the 1^st Cavalry Brigade stationed at Aldershot. They landed at Le Havre on August 16^th 1914.

The 5^th dragoons first engaged the enemy on August 22^nd 1914 on the Mons Valenciennes Rd. The Cavalry Division were later engaged in the Battle of Le Cateau, and it was during a subsidiary action known as the Nery affair that Charles Yates fell.  The 1st Cavalry Brigade was surprised by the 4^th German Cavalry Division of the German army on the morning of 1^st September 1914. Fierce fighting followed during which Charles Yates was killed. Colonel George Ansell of the 5^th Dragoons Guards also fell.

Charles is commemorated at Verberie French National Cemetery, his regiment is listed as the 1^st (Kings) Dragoon Guards by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. His medal roll card includes 5^th (Princess Charlotte of Wales) Dragoon Guards.

Private John William Bell: 22^nd September 1914

John was born in Saleby on 28^th April 1894, the second son of agricultural labourer Joseph Bell and his wife Maria. Joseph died before John was 6, by the age of 16 he was working as a waggoner at Furze Farm on Manby Road, Louth.

Private Bell served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry on the HMS Hogue. In the early morning of September 22^nd 1914 HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressey and HMS Hogue formed a patrol of British Steamers. They were spotted by a German submarine and the Aboukir was torpedoed. Suspecting a mine the other two ships moved to rescue the men from the sinking Aboukir. HMS Hogue then took two torpedoes, before the sub attacked the Cressy.

All three British ships were lost within 90 minutes. They were obsolete and heavily crewed by reservists and trainees labelled as the “live bait squadron” within the fleet. The Royal Navy refer to the incident as the “severest blow to the Royal Navy’s pride in 100 years” 1459 men were lost.

The U Boat crew returned to Germany hailed as heroes.

John William Bell is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

1915

Private Sydney Hackney: 25th September 1915

Research has confirmed that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission does not list anyone matching these criteria. Similarly Major General Simpson’s History of the Lincolnshire Regiment 1914 -1918 does contain any Hackney other than Sydney. As yet we have been unable to trace his links to Alford but it is possible that his widow, Florence, moved to the area during, or shortly after, the war.

Sydney Thomas Hackney was born in Cherry Willingham, the third of 11 children born to Tom and Marian Hackney. He married Florence Parker late in 1914 in the Horncastle area.  Sydney served with the 1^st Battalion Lincolnshire’s before the war, he later moved to the 2^nd battalion.

Private Hackney fought at Bois Grenier on 25^th September 1915, this offensive served as a diversion from the main attack at Loos.The heavy bombardment of the German lines began at 4.25am under cover of smoke and gas. The Lincolnshire’s initially took Bridoux Fort but were eventually forced to withdraw from their target under heavy counter attacks when the supply of bombs had run out.

Sydney was among those missing, his service records record the date of his death as on or since the 25^th September 1915. He is remembered with honour on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the missing in Belgium. His brother Harold later died in action in October 1918, Harold had earlier escaped the 1914 bombardment of Scarborough.

Private John Henry Ward: 25^th September 1915

Registry office records show that John Henry Ward was born on 24^th August 1895, the son of spinster Annie Ward, brother to Clara. Jack, as his family called him, was born in Parsons Lane at the home of Annie’s parents, his grandfather William worked as a Rat Catcher.  Annie and her children moved to Ranters Row and by the age of 15 Jack was working as an errand boy for the chemist.

Private Ward also served in the 2^nd battalion Lincolnshire and therefore likely to have fought in the action of Bois Grenier on 25^th September 1915.  The violent German counter attacks resulted in heavy losses for the 2^nd battalion, 66 men were killed and 36 missing.

Records show that in the extreme excitement of action, the men forgot how to use the wide variety of different bombs that were issued.The fuses and matches got damp and many bombs of the “time fuse” type were thrown unlit and so failed to explode. The smoke and gas used for cover had also hindered the advance for several hours.

John Henry Ward was killed in action on 25^th September 1915. He is  commemorated on the Ploegsteert memorial in Belgium.

Lance Corporal Henry Hundleby: 13^th October 1915

Herbert Henry Hundleby was born in 1893 in Alford.  In 1901 he was living with his mother Mary Ann, his grandfather Henry, and his sisters Florence, Elsie and Ethel in Finsbury Street. By 1911 he was working for the Post Office as a telegraph messenger, and the growing family lived in Mount Pleasant.

Herbert joined the 5^th territorial battalion in November 1910. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France at Le Havre on March 1st 1915, being appointed the rank of Lance Corporal the following July. Herbert’s service records record him as missing from 13^th October 1915, on 22^nd November he is listed as killed in action in the field, Herbert was 21 years old.

In June 1916 Herbert’s mother enclosed a letter with the army forms she was returning, she wrote:

I ask you to do the best you can for me. My son was a very great help to me and I don’t know what I shall do without his help, as I have 7 children, all dependant,  and  I am an invalid. 

In 1920 Mrs Ward received a payment of £3, 18 shillings and two pence for maintenance.

The attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13^th October 1915 was the last action in the Battle of Loos and cost the 5^th Lincolns dearly. Initially they made good progress over no man’s land but they soon came under violent machine gun and rifle fire, leaving the men confused and leaderless from an early stage.

A notice issued on Oct 15^th: The GOC wishes to convey to the Division his deep appreciation of their most gallant conduct on the 13^th inst. The attack was carried out with great bravery and dash, and it was no fault of the infantry that the objective of the attack was not reached. The Corps commander has desired the GOC to convey to all ranks his admiration for the manner in which the attack was carried out.

Lieut. Col TE Sandall of Alford was the commanding officer of the 5^th battalion. He was wounded in the offensive, and was subsequently awarded the CMG in the New Year Honours list in January 1916.

Five other Alford men were also wounded, two of whom were gassed. 

Acting Lance Sergeant Herbert Purdom: 15^th October 1915

Herbert George Purdom was born in 1893 in Croydon, the son George and Annie Purdom. Following the death of his father in 1898 Annie and her 5year old son returned to her native Alford. Herbert’s grandfather, Robert Mason, had been a prominent business man, employer and philanthropist in the town until his sudden death in 1867. In 1901 Herbert and his mother were living as boarders in Hamilton Place, by 1911 they had moved to East Street, and Herbert was working as an outfitters apprentice.

On October 13th 1915 Acting Lance Sergeant Herbert Purdom served with B Company of the 5^th battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, the date of the offensive on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He was wounded in action and died on 15^th October 1915 at the 6^th Casualty Clearing Station in France, Herbert was 22years old. The 5^th Lincolnshire’s lost 188 men on 13^th October 1915, the total casualties by the 15^th October numbered 483 men. It would take another three years for many of the men’s bodies to be recovered from no man’s land.

1916

Private Charles Lambert: 4th March 1916

Charles Lambert was born in Anderby on 4th October 1887, to Frederick and Susannah Lambert, one of five children he was their only son. In 1901 the family lived in Commercial Road in Alford, Charles was 13 years of age and worked as an errand boy at the confectioners. By 1911 he was living with his wife Susanna in Erith, working under his own account as a Draper.  The couple had two children, Francis Dougal born 25/06/1912 and Eric Charles born 5/06/1914.

De Ruvignys Roll of Honour provides additional information on Charles Lambert:

The attack on March 2^nd was made on a German connecting trench called the Chord within the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Despite several men being wounded by an exploded mine the objective was achieved along with other craters in the area. Casualties were heavy but they held the trench overnight, the Germans launched a counter attack with grenades. 9th battalion casualties were heavy.

Charles Lambert is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing but De Ruvignys lists him buried at Vermelles. Charles is not listed at Vermelles but there are some unidentified graves there. 

Lieutenant Lyons George Edmund Walcott: 2^nd July 1916

“George” Walcott was born in London, on 16^th August 1889, one of four children born to Mr Lyons Roden Sympson Walcott and his wife Jean Cleland Walcott of Vincent Square, Westminster. George was educated at Worthing and Wellington, by 1911 he was working as a Land agent’s clerk.  An appointment to the Land Valuation Scheme brought him to Lincolnshire, here he joined the territorials and received a commission in the Lincolnshire Regiment at the outbreak of war.

During the summer of 1915 Lt Walcott was confined to the base in Rouen with illness for several weeks.  Miss Higgins spent a lot of her free time visiting their family friend and, as his health improved, they went on picnics, to the cinema and out to tea together. Lt. Walcott returned to England on the hospital ship St Andrew.

By 1^st July 1916, the first of the battles for the Somme, George Walcott had re-joined the 5^th battalion. At 9.30pm that evening they moved along the communication trenches towards the frontline at Gommecourt Wood. Reports from earlier raids confirmed that the enemy trenches were in an appalling condition and the wire was well cut. The 5^th attacked at midnight, under heavy rifle and machine gun fire the platoons advanced, quickly losing touch in the darkness. Uncut enemy wires halted the advance, the reports were wrong incorrect. Further advance was impossible, the men were ordered to lay down while awaiting orders. A second attack was planned but the order to withdraw quickly followed. The contradictory orders from Divisional command delayed the withdrawal leaving the men in the field under fire.

Lieutenant George Walcott was killed in the early hours of July 2^nd 1916.  Colonel Sandall wrote:

“Walcott led his platoon in a most gallant manner to within a few yards of the German wire where he was shot through the head….. He was a general favourite with all. Was always cheery – always willing – and always doing his best. He fell in action at the head of his men as a gallant officer and gentleman”.

George Walcott’s body was not retrieved until later in 1917.

Private Bertie Lambert Middleton: 3rd July 1916

Bertie Lambert Middleton was the fifth of eight surviving children born to Charles and Lucy Lambert Middleton of Alford. In the 1911 census Bertie, aged 25, is listed at the family home in Finsbury Street along with four siblings. Lucy would later lose three of her six sons in the Great War. Bertie’s occupation is noted as a Well borer and he was a private in the 2^nd Lincolns.

During the months prior to the combined British and French offensive all of the men on the Somme had been engaged in strenuous preparations, digging in communication trenches, constructing railway and tram lines and gathering stocks of ammunition and stores, as well as maintaining the lines and training. All of which, we are assured by Major General CR Simpson, was borne with cheerfulness.

By July 1916 Bertie Lambert was with the first Lincolns, seven battalions of the Lincolns were on the front line on 1^st July in the area from Fricourt to Ovillers. July 3^rd was a warm summer day, just before 9am the German positions at Birch Tree and Shelter Woods were put under heavy artillery bombardment, the 1^st Lincolns rushed the enemy at 9am but soon came under heavy machine gun and rifle fire. By 4:30pm the woods were in the hands of the Lincolnshire but the heavy bombing and machine gun fire had killed 37 men with 197 wounded. The Divisional and Brigade Commanders specifically praised the 1^st Lincolnshire Battalion for the 700 enemy prisoners taken that day.

Bertie died on 3^rd July 1916 he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, the memorial to the missing of the Somme. The names of over 72,000 men who died on the Somme are remembered, they have no known grave.

Tracing the records of this soldier are complicated by the various names used. The family name is recorded as Lambert Middleton in 1911, 10 years earlier they were listed under the name Middleton. Bertie and his younger brother Herbert served under the surname Lambert, their elder brother John George served under the surname Melton

Private John Melton: 20^th July 1916

John George Lambert Middleton was the fourth of eight surviving children born to Charles and Lucy Lambert Middleton of Alford. In 1901 he was recorded at the Millbay Barracks in Plymouth as a gunner, aged 18, under the name of John George Lambert.

Military records reveal that John George Middleton married Annie Smith on 4^th November 1905, their son John Herbert Middleton is listed as being born on 23^rd October 1902. John George Middleton joined the Lincolnshire Regiment in August 1914. The 1914 records reveal that less than a month later he was placed in detention for 14 days due to drunkenness. On 19^th October 1914 John G Middleton was discharged, his superiors recorded that “he was not likely to be an efficient soldier”.  

John re-enlisted in Norwich under the name John Melton, he served with the 2^nd Suffolk Battalion. During1916 the 2^nd Suffolk were involved at the Bluff, St Eloi Craters, the Battle of Albert and the Battle of Bazentin. On July 20^th John’s battalion were involved in a counter attack Delville Wood.  Chris McCarthy’s book “The Somme Day-by-Day” records the event:

At 3.35 am the Suffolks advanced from the west, but the two leading companies were almost entirely wiped out. The Fusiliers went astray, and came under fire from a British machine-gun barrage, losing most of their officers, only to press home a fruitless attack.

The battle for Delville Wood continued until 3^rd September 1916.

The roll of honour records John Melton’s death as 20^th July 1916. Records of his effects actually show him as being “presumed dead” on or after 20^th July 1916.  Two of the three Lambert Middleton brothers had been lost within three weeks of each other. Herbert Lambert Middleton died in 1918.

John George Lambert Middleton is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial under the name John Melton.

2^nd Lieutenant Sydney Vernon Phillips: 14^th August 1916

Sydney was one of three children born to Rev. Sydney Harris Phillips and his wife May, formerly of the Alford Wesleyan Circuit.

Lieutenant Phillips was born in Herne Bay March 1888, census records indicate that he spent his early years in Somerset. Following his education at Wycliffe College, Stonehouse, Gloucester he took up surveying. In 1911, aged 23, Sydney worked as an assistant valuer for the Inland Revenue, he was living in Kings Norton, Moseley, Birmingham.In 1913 he became a Fellow of the Surveyors Institute and was appointed as a Land Valuer for the Inland Revenue Board.

In November 1915 Sydney joined the Artist’s rifles as a 2^nd Lieutenant serving with the Leicestershire Regiment. From 14^th July 1916 he served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders.  Lieutenant Phillips was killed in action near Arras on 14^th Aug following an explosion by a mine, he was 28 years old.

Following his death Sydney’s commanding Officer wrote:

“We all liked him very much, he was so jolly, but at the same time seriously minded. He was not one of those who wore the King’s uniform as a sort of decoration or for show, and I would there were more like him”

Lieutenant Phillips was, like his father before him, a local preacher.  Professor Lofthouse a chaplain to the Leicester Regiment paid the following tribute to him:

“He was always smart and conscientious, held himself like a soldier, knew his job and did it. His was a fine, eager and devout spirit and I am the better for having known him”.

Sydney is commemorated at the Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetary in Arras, along with six other young men from the 7^th battalion Leicester Regiment who lost their lives on the same day.

Lieutenant Corporal William Percy Vear: 17^th September 1916

William Percy Vear was one of seven children born to Alford Grocer David Vear and his wife Georgiana. Following the death of David Vear in March 1890 the family moved from West Street to Hamilton Road where they lived for many years. In 1911 William was still living in Hamilton Road with his mother and his sister, he was working as a printer. 

In early September 1916 William Vear’s battalion, the 21^st Kings Royal Rifles were engaged in Company and Battalion training at Francières. In his memoirs Anthony Eden (later Prime minister) recalled the men leaving the training and moving on to the Somme for the first time:

My clearest memory is of the company marching back to billets along a dusty country road, tired but cheerful and singing. …  The next night just before the light of dawn, the Yeoman Rifles wound up the hill out of Françières to entrain for the Somme. As they sang ‘There’s a long, long trail a-winding’, they were at the peak of their strength and pride. _{Anthony Eden: “Another World” 1976}

Over the next week the battalion marched towards the front, at 6pm on 14^th September they moved to the assembly trenches in front of Delville Wood. The Battle of Flers-Courcelette commenced on 15^th September 1916, it was the first time Britain used the tank in combat. 

Lieutenant Corporal Vear is likely to have lost his life during the intense fighting that followed. The battalion diary contains a scribbled note of the day’s losses: killed in action 58 men:  wounded 266: missing 70.

When writing of the awful roll call of the depleted battalion the following morning Eden noted that there was a grim presumption that almost all the missing would be dead.  William Percy Vear is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing on the Somme, his brother Cuthbert Leslie Vear died in July 1917.

Private Serge Jacobsen: 19^th September 1916

Serge Jacobsen was one of ten children born to Dr George Jacobsen – the son of a German born Merchant – and his wife Mary. The family moved around frequently, in 1911 their home was in West Street in Alford, Serge was resident at school in Sevenoaks. He later joined his brother in Canada.

Serge worked as a railway clerk, following his enlistment in July 1915 he sailed from Halifax in April 1916, arriving in England in May for further training. In August he transferred to the 25^th battalion overseas expeditionary force and sailed for France on 24^th Aug 1916.

The 25^th Battalion had already spent 339 days on the Belgium front where

The men had acquired “Robert the Bruce” the battalion goat, who would swank in front of the pipe band, drink beer and demand his blanket at bedtime. Who was still happily living on Major Matheson’s farm in the 1920s. _{Nova Scotia’s Part in the Great War}

Private Jacobsen was among those men who gathered in Albert under corrugated iron and tarpaulins in advance of the attack at Flers-Courcelette on September 15th. The 25^th Battalion held their line to the East of the town for several days until they were relieved, many of their men were lost. Lieut. Colonel Hilliam closed his report on the events with the following words

“General, I have the honour of commanding the finest body of men I have ever seen.”

Private Serge Jacobsen died of his wounds at 2/1^st South Midlands Clearing Station on September 19^th 1916 he had been in France for less than one month. He is buried in Warloy-Baillon Communal cemetery extension.

Private George Christopher Clark: 25^th September 1916

George Clark was one of eleven children born to George and Mary Clark. George senior was an agricultural worker and the family moved around Lincolnshire, living in Fillingham, Aby, Wrangle and Wainfleet, by 1911 the family home was in Beesby.

George Christopher Clark was born in Wainfleet around 1888. He enlisted at Alford, his service records indicate that he lived in and worked as a Garthman for John and Charlotte Emmerson of Farlesthorpe.

Private George Clark served with the first Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. On 24^th September the men marched from Fricourt Camp to Switch Trench, the headquarters of the 64^th Brigade. Following rest, hot tea and rum they moved to the assembly trenches at 10pm. They would attack at 12.35pm on 25^th September, their objective being the capture of Gueudecourt.

The battalion diary records the ferocity of the barrage they faced during the attack.

The men bayoneted and their bombed their way up Gas Alley until thinned in numbers by heavy casualties.

Having reorganised the men continued their advance:

A heavy barrage of great intensity was opened all along our advancing line……despite the fact that the barrage was highly intense and accurately ranged these companies…marched along as if on parade without in any way having their morale shaken for a distance of about 1500 yards. Officers and men were falling at every moment.

By 1pm it was established the 25% of the men had been killed or wounded.

Private George Clark was killed in action on that day, 25^th September 1916, he is remembered with honour at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval.

Private William Edward King: 7^th October 1916

William Edward King was born on September 5^th 1895 in St Margaret’s Parish, Kings Lynn. He was one of five children born to Jeweller William Johnson King and his wife Jane. The family lived on Tuesday Market Place where they continued to live in 1911 when William was still at school.

Few records are available for William between 1911 and 1916, the Roll of Honour states that he was born in Alford, enlisted in Spilsby, and resident in Alford. However census records reveal that he was born in Alford.

Private WE King served with the 26^th battalion Royal Fusiliers. On 7^th October his battalion gathered to attack Bayonet Trench close to the Village of Le Barque.

The men were soaked to the skin with liquid mud for days on end, and after ration-carrying fatigues were dead-beat. It was a long carry, and the mud was appalling.   _{The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War, HC O’Neill} 

They advanced under the protection of their own artillery fire on the German trenches but soon suffered severe casualties from heavy German machine gun fire which mowed down the front companies. In all the 26th only managed to advance 300 yards where they dug in having lost 14 officers and 240 other ranks.

Insufficient preparation and support, reduced strength and the terrible state of the ground, had proved too heavy a handicap for units who had each performed excellent service before.….the state of the roads was so bad that the transport took three hours and a quarter to traverse five miles. _{The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War, HC O’Neill} 

Private William Edward King died on 7^th October 1916, he is commemorated at the AIF burial ground at Flers.

2^nd Lieutenant Harry Skelton: 12^th October 1916

Harry Skelton was one of nine children born to Richard Maidens Skelton and his wife Sarah. The Skelton family lived on West Street in Alford where Harry’s father worked as a butcher.

Harry was a star pupil achieving several scholarships at Junior and Senior levels. He attended Alford Grammar School, and won a senior County Council scholarship, worth £50 per year, and tenable for two years and proceeded to Kings College London. He took his BA degree at London University, subsequently holding scholastic positions at Denbigh and Watford. In 1911 Harry was living in Denbigh, Wales and working as a Schoolmaster’s assistant.

In December 1914 Harry enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment, he received his commission to the Royal Fusiliers on 16^th June 1915, serving as a second lieutenant.

In October 1916 the Royal Fusiliers were facing the network of trenches which formed the outer defences of Ligny-Thilloy. During the attack launched on October 7^th 1916 the 8^th Battalion suffered particularly heavy losses. 

General Boyd Moss sent the the following message:

Will you please thank all ranks of your battalion for the magnificent gallantry they displayed yesterday. They advanced steadily under a heavy fire which only the very best troops could have faced. Though unfortunately unsuccessful, their gallant conduct has added to the fine reputation which you have already won for yourselves.                   _{The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War, HC O’Neill} 

Harry Skelton died of his wounds on 12^th October 1916, he is commemorated at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe. The 36^th,  38^th and 2/2^nd clearing stations were at Heilly until June 1917 which suggests that Harry may have died at one of these medical units.

Driver William Hasnip: 16^th October 1916

William Hasnip was one of four boys born to Alford blacksmith Jason Hasnip and his wife Mary Ann before her untimely death at the age of 32. Jason Hasnip married Emma Brant in 1889 and the couple had four more children the family lived on East St in Alford.

William continued in his father’s footsteps working as a blacksmith. In 1909 he married Winifred Smith, the couple had two children William born in 1910 and Frances Helen (Nellie) born 1913.

In May 1915 aged 36 William enlisted for service, he was discharged two weeks later, re-enlisting in August 1915 in the Service Corps.  He sailed from Southampton on 10^th November 1915 for the Balkans, arriving on 5^th December when he joined the 108^th Company serving with the 22^nd division.

Driver William Hasnip’s service records contain various testimonials from local businesses. He is highly praised as a straightforward businessman with a reputation among farmers and others as the best at his work as a shoesmith in the district.

On the 14^th October 1916 Driver William Hasnip was admitted to a hospital in Salonika having been kicked by a mule, two days later he died from a ruptured intestine.

A court of enquiry heard from the two men who had been holding a mule for branding, the animal had flung out with his hind leg and hit William Hasnip. The Court ruled that Driver William Hasnip died through no fault of his own while in the execution of his duty.        

William Hasnip is commemorated at the Karasouli Military Cemetery in Greece.

Private Albert Ellerby: 23^rd November 1916

Roll of Honour: Albert Ellerby: Private. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. 23rd November 1916. (Unable to identify CWGC/SDGW).

Albert Stephenson was born in Louth in 1887, the son of Annie Stephenson of Grimoldby. In 1891 Albert, aged 4, was living with his mother in the home of North Somercotes’ farmer William Vessey, where Annie worked as a housekeeper.  In 1894 Annie moved to Alford and married William Ellerby.  At the age of 14 Albert was working at the Gate Inn at Ulceby, where he helped with the cows and the poultry. In 1911 he married Leonora Rhoades, the couple lived in Little Coates where Albert worked as a traveller for a Brewery.

The 8^th battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry formed part of the 70^th Brigade within the 23^rd Division. Lieutenant Colonel Sandilands’ history of the 23^rd Division provides an insight into the last few weeks of the Albert’s life.

Following their successful role in the capture of Le Sars the Division left the “mud and slaughter of the Somme” in mid-October 1916 and moved to the Ypres Salient for the Winter. Coffee stalls were set up for the men coming down from the trenches. Three recreation rooms, two baths and a laundry were set up in Ypres and a reading room “offered warmth and a cheering contrast to trench life”.

The German line was within 100 yards of the British in this area in some places as close as 50.  The shelling was continuous “with shells arriving from every direction except the immediate rear”. The 70^th Brigade returned to the trenches in the last week of November. Raiding parties were frequent from both sides and escalated shelling. Casualties were not heavy but the constant anticipation of bombardment imposed a continual strain on the troops in the trenches.

 An officer of the 70^th brigade described life in the trenches on the Ypres Salient at this time.

We were having tea in the dugout in Lovers Walk when the enemy started shelling. The whizz bangs came along with a noise like a small whirlwind and on bursting gave out nasty fumes. We crouched in the corner of our shelter. One shell burst in the doorway and another on the roof. At 6pm we started an artillery strafe on our right, the Huns replied and soon the air was humming with the rush of shells in all directions. I tried to hide behind my tin hat and had the “wind up” properly as I expected to be hit any moment.

On 23^rd November 1916 Private Albert Stephenson was killed in action serving with the 70^th Brigade on the Ypres Salient. He is remembered with honour at the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground close to Ypres. Leonora had his headstone inscribed with the words: Until The Day Breaks

Private Basil Martin Hammond: 25^th December 1916

Basil Martin Hammond was one of four sons born to Harry Hammond and his wife Ada. Basil was born in Friskney, in 1901 the family were living in Wrangle, by  1911 he was working for Alfred Allis as a grocers apprentice in West Street Alford.

Records indicate that Basil Hammond joined Hunts Cyclist Battalion before January 1916 at their headquarters in Huntingdon. The HCB were originally formed as a home defence battalion, providing patrols on the East Coast. In late July 1916 orders were issued at the Well Camp posting the men of the HCB to the British Expeditionary Force in France.

Basil Hammond was among those posted and subsequently transferred to the 14^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. During December 1916 the 14^th battalion were holding the front lines between Festubert and Givenchy.

The battalion diary reveals that on the 24^th December 1916 the artillery and trench mortars commenced a 4 day steady bombardment of the German lines with frequent periods of intense fire by day and night supported by Lewis guns and rapid fire by the garrison, the bombardment being carried out to prevent fraternising during Christmas.

On Christmas day the battalion continued to hold the front line in very cold and wet conditions, under heavy German fire. Private Hammond was killed by enemy shellfire on 25^th December 1916.

Basil Hamond is buried in Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France. The inscription on his headstone reads:  Greater Love Hath no man than this.

1917

Private Charles Henry Taylor: 9^th Feb 1917

Charles (John) Henry Taylor was one of seven children born to John and Mary Ann Taylor of Alford. The family lived in the Finsbury Street area from the time of Charles birth in 1885. In 1911, aged 26, he was working as a relief postman; Charles was living with his widowed Mother in South Street, just a few doors away from the Cross Keys Inn at the bottom of Finsbury St.

Although the Roll of honour lists Charles battalion as the 19^th his grave details show the 16^th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. At the end of January 1917 the 16^th battalion were entrenched in the area around Beaumont Hamel preparing for an attack.  The conditions around this area were very poor according to the published records of the Battalion.  The narrative relating to the time of Charles’ death describes the scene. All of the posts and the Wagon Road (the sole feeder to the sector) were under heavy shelling…

Private Charles Taylor died on 9^th February 1917 the attack on Ten Tree Alley was launched the following day. He is commemorated at Auchenvillers Military Cemetery.

His gravestone reads: A light has from our household gone, a voice we loved is still. _{(Mrs E Smith, Cross Keys, South Street, Alford, Lincs.)}

Private Sydney Wilson: 9^th April 1917

Sydney Wilson was born in Strubby in May 1893. One of eight children born to agricultural engine driver William Wilson and his wife Eliza Jane. In 1911 the Wilsons were living in Caroline Street in Alford, Sydney and his sister Minnie were also present in the family home. Eighteen year old Sydney worked as a hairdresser’s apprentice.

He enlisted in Sheffield, serving with the 6^th battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. War diaries show that the battalion were billeted in Berneville preparing for the Battle of Arras from 1^st to 8^th April. During this time trenches were marked out on the ground representing the first and second objectives and practice attacks were carried out.  On 7^th the men moved through Arras to the caves at Ronville, the network of tunnels and rooms connected ancient tunnels and pits already in existence under the city. The tunnels were fitted with running water and electricity. The underground city included a large hospital area with room for 700 beds and operating theatres. The battalion remained in the caves until 8pm on the 8^th when they took up their position in the assembly trenches.

From midnight to 3am on 9^th April advance parties cut the wire, they were under continuous sniper and machine gun fire. At 5.30am the attack commenced to the North and gradually worked south, 6 tanks reaching the assembly trenches at 7.15am. The men went over the top at 7.34am on 9^th April 1917. It was Easter Monday, the first day of the first battle of the Scarpe. Private Wilson was among those attacking the Hindenburg Line which was one of the costlier attacks that day.

Over the 9^th and 10^th April the diary reports two officers and 26 other ranks killed, Sydney was among those killed in action on 9^th April, he left a widow, Blanche Wilson.  

Private Sydney Wilson is commemorated at Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines. Records show that his original burial place was at a small cemetery in the surrounding area, being moved to a Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in 1919.

Private George Haydn Brown: 15^th April 1917

George Haydn Brown was born in Cottingham, close to Hull, where his mother, Fanny Brown of Alford, worked as a servant. The 1891 census shows George living with his mother, but 10 years later Fanny is boarding in Halifax and George is not with her. In 1902 Fanny married Herbert Wakefield in Halifax.

By 1911 George, aged 21, was living with his grandparents, Joseph and Fanny Brown, in Carr Lane, Alford. The census lists Joseph as a horse breaker and George as an under groom.

Military records reflect that George enlisted in Melton Mowbray, he served with the 21^st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The record of his death states that he died of wounds at No. 11 General Hospital.

We do not have the details of when Private Brown was injured, his Battalion were involved in the first Battle of the Scarpe which commenced on 9^th April 1917. Prior to that war diaries show that the battalion were involved in providing working parties to prepare for battle and extensive training was undertaken in preparation for the attack. Casualties were noted throughout March and the beginning of April but the casualty numbers naturally increase rapidly from the start of the offensive.

The Number 11 General Hospital was situated at Camiers. The wounded men would have been patched up at the Casualty Clearing Stations before being transported the 60 miles West from Arras.  Camiers was the home of a 12,000 bed hospital camp, very few huts existed except for mess halls, kitchens and heavy surgical wards. The majority of the 2,000 patients in General Hospital Number 11 were cared for in marquees, each holding 50 to 60 patients. Medical staff were housed in small bell tents.

The hospital operated at full capacity most of the time. As convoys carrying the wounded arrived from the front the walking wounded had to be evacuated to accommodate them. The sound of heavy gunfire underlined the continued presence of the enemy in the air, while the hills behind the camp were covered in the bright red poppies associated with Flanders fields.

Private George Haydn Brown died on 15^th April 1917, his effects were returned to his Mother Fanny Wakefield, he is commemorated at Etaples Military Cemetery, France.

Private 16087. 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of wounds 26th April 1917. Born Alford, enlisted Louth and resident Alford, Lincs. Commemorated GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY. II.A.7.

Private Arthur Humphrey: 26^th April 1917

Arthur Humphrey is listed on the roll as being born in Alford but he was actually born in Sleaford in 1889, the son of general labourer William Humphrey and his wife Harriet. In the1911 census Arthur is listed as a boarder in a house in Grimsby, he is with five colleagues who are all listed as labourers on steam roundabouts.

2^nd December 1911 Arthur Thomas Humphrey married Lizzie Scrimshaw from West Street Alford. Records suggest that they later had a son, John W Humphrey, born in February 1915.

Private Humphrey served with the 6^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, he disembarked on 12^th December 1915 in Gallipoli where the 6^th had been fighting the Turks around Suvla for some months. They had suffered terribly in the heat, and dysentery was rife, in late November blizzards and floods suddenly took hold and swept some men out to see while others drowned in flooded trenches. Severe frost followed leaving many of the Lincolnshire men suffering the agonies of frostbite. This was the theatre of war which Arthur Humphry first experienced. The 6^th were finally evacuated from Suvla Bay on 21^st December.

January 1916 was spent training on Imbros before they embarked for Egypt where they were engaged in the defence of the Suez Canal. In July the battalion left Egypt for the Western front where they were involved in the operations on the Somme to the end of 1916.

In early 1917 the Regiment History records 6^th as being “out of the line” until 12^th April when they marched to Havlincourt close to Bapaume. The 11^th Division were now attached to the 1^st Anzac Corps who were pushing forward as the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line. The 6^th Lincs were responsible for the defence of the line close to the village of Louveral, but Regiment history records show “no great activity in the line” during late April. Anzac records refer to fierce fighting as the Germans withdrew.   

Private Arthur Humphrey died of wounds on 28^th April 1917 at the 3^rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) in Grevillers. The CCS was moved to Grevillers in mid-March to cope with the many wounded from the heavy fighting in the Battle of Lagnicourt and at Bullecourt. The diary of Sister Annie Bell who served at the CCS records heavy bombardments in the early morning of 25^th April and again on the 27^th.   

Private Humphrey is commemorated at Grevillers British Cemetery.

Private Leonard Ernest Forman: 28^th April 1917

Leonard Ernest Forman was born in Weston-super-Mare on 12th April 1888, the son of, Alford born, carpenter Leonard Forman and his wife Harriett. By 1901 the family had returned to Alford, living on South Street close to the White Hart Yard. Leonard Ernest was one of three children his younger siblings, Emma and Cecil, were born in Alford.

The Forman family remain in Alford in 1911 but Leonard is absent. Immigration records do show a Leonard E. Forman arriving in Quebec in May 1911. Leonard Ernest Forman from Alford married Ethel Whate in Winnipeg on 4^th September 1913.  On March 1^st 1916 Leonard signed up for the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force, he served as a Private with the 8^th Battalion.

The Canadian Expeditionary Force are renowned for their successful attack on Vimy Ridge in April 1917, the 8^th Battalion were among those who directly participated.   Having suffered through the worst European winter for 21 years, being cold enough to freeze rivers, they launched their attack on 9^th April 1917 in a blinding snowstorm under withering fire. The majority of the ridge was captured in one morning. Leonard survived Vimy but many did not…

A follow up action was the capture of Arleux. Once again the 8^th battalion were directly involved in the capture of Arleux en Gohelle, a heavily fortified German billet. The offensive was launched at midnight, records show that Private Forman was killed instantly by an enemy shell shortly after leaving the “jumping off” trench in the early hours of April 28^th 1917. The 2^nd Brigade CEF went on to capture the town.

Private Leonard Ernest Forman is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.

Lance Corporal Edwin Tayles: 28^th April 1917

Edwin Tayles was born around 1897, the son of Horncastle grocer William Tayles and his wife Jane. Jane died in 1907, leaving Edwin and six siblings in the care of their father. In 1911 the family were living in Ashby by Partney, Edwin’s aunt, uncle and cousins complete the household. William married Sarah Ann Walker in 1912.

Edwin Tayles served with the 10^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, the Grimsby Chums. In April 1917 they were involved in the battles around Arras, in particular they served with the 101^st Brigade of the 34^th Division and were among those who captured the Pont Du Jour on the opening day of the Battle of Arras, 9^th April 1917. Extensive use of gas in the area led to many casualties. In 2001 wide publicity surrounded the mass burial of men thought to be from the Grimsby Chums, they were buried in a line and appeared to be linking arms when found.

The 34^th division moved on to attack Rouex at the end of April. Major General CR Simpson’s History of the Lincolnshire Regiment provides a detailed account of the Battle of Arleux which took place from 28^th to 29^th April 1917.

At 4.15am the 10^th Lincolnshire Battalion left their trenches and assembled in the open.

The morning was dark, but the enemy probably heard the troops assembling, for he immediately opened fire with trench-mortars, field-guns and machine-guns. At zero hour the companies advanced but soon came under intense fire and casualties were heavy. [The area] was full of Germans who poured a destructive fire into the attacking troops, enfilading them as they advanced.   _{C.R.Simpson 1931}

Fierce fighting continued throughout the day and the battalion suffered heavy losses with over 430 men killed, wounded or missing.

Lance Corporal Edwin Tayles died on 28^th April 1917, he was 20 years old.

He is remembered with honour at Rouex British Cemetery.

Private William Ellerby: 2^nd May 1917

(James) William Ellerby was born in 1897 to William and Annie Ellerby of Alford. On the 1901 census William is recorded at home in Ranters Row with his widowed mother and older sister Ethel. By 1911 James William was working as an errand boy for the stationers, he was 14.

Private Ellerby served at home from 7^th Dec 1915, sailing for France one year later France, he served with the 13^th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment (EYR).

In the spring of 1917 the 13^th EYR suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of Arleux on 28^th and 29^th April.

The next objective was the capture of Oppy Wood, the advance was to be made over the same ground and battle debris from heavy shelling over previous days already littered the ground. The heavily fortified wood was 1 acre in area and contained many German observation posts, machine-guns and trench mortars; it was held by the 1^st and 2^nd German Guards, which the EYR history describes as: ‘some of the bravest of the enemy troops’.

On 1^st May 1917 Officers and NCO’s of the 10^th and 13^th EYR went forward to check the assembly positions and returned next morning to issue equipment for the advance. At 11pm on the 2^nd May, the 11^th and 12^th EYR started to move to their assembly positions they were accompanied by four guides from the 13^th EYR.  

The war diary continues

The assembling took place in brilliant moonlight over quite unknown country and with four guides (from the 13^th EYR). The enemy evidently saw the troops assembling and put up an intensive barrage followed by another one later …

James William Ellerby died on May 2^nd 1917, records suggest that he was actually only 20 when he died. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Private Sidney Crowson: 7^th June 1917

Sidney Crowson was one of seven children born to small farmer William Crowson and his wife Emma of Farlesthorpe Rd, Bilsby. In 1910 Sidney married Sarah Ann Rushby of Welton le Wold, their son Richard was born the following year. In the 1911 census Sidney is listed as working as a groom at Rigsby House for the Budibent family.

Private Sidney Crowson served with the 7^th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, part of the 16^th Irish Division. The Battle of Messines Ridge began on 7^th June 1917. The ultimate goal of the British was the capture of the ports of Ostend and Zebrugge where the German submarines were based. The front line between Ypres and Messines had been at the heart of a grim and relentless struggle. The ridge was essential to the German advance towards Dunkirk and Calais. Since 1915 the war in the Ypres Salient had moved underground as miners tunnelled their way towards and under the enemy.

On the morning of 7 June 1917, at 4.10 am local time, the British exploded 19 deep

mines, 450,000 kilos of explosives, almost simultaneously. The gigantic explosions destroyed the enemy positions and created huge craters in the landscape.

Chaplain Van Walleghem described the sight in his war diary:

‘It was just 4 am and the first daylight was beginning to glimmer, when I suddenly saw the most gigantic and at the same time the most hideously magnificent firework display that had ever been detonated in Flanders, a veritable volcano – it was as if the entire south-east was belching fire…… Oh, if it wasn’t men being slaughtered, you would call it beautiful.”

The surprise was total and the impact and the chaos among the Germans was enormous. In the fighting and the gigantic artillery bombardment that followed the mine explosions, British, Irish, Australian, and New Zealand units succeeded in taking the Messines ridge. Their total losses came to 15,913 dead, 23,953 wounded, and 10,595 missing.

Private Sidney Crowson was killed in action on 7^th June 1917, he is commemorated at Croonaert Chapel Cemetery, Belgium.

Private Samuel Vamplew: 7^th June 1917

Samuel Vamplew was one of seven children born to farmer Timothy Vamplew and his wife Olive of Grimoldby. At the time of the 1911 census the family were with Samuel’s elder brother Edmund, the proprietor of the White Horse Hotel in Alford. Samuel was employed in the post yard.

Private Vamplew served with the 6^th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment also part of the 16^th Irish Division. As the presence of Samuel Vamplew and Sidney Crowson suggests, the original make-up of the Irish divisions changed extensively during the war as men from other regiments were transferred to restore losses, particularly after the Battles for the Somme.

The war diary for the 6^th Battalion Royal Irish details the preparations for the advance on Wyschaete throughout the end of May at their training ground at Alquines. The march towards the front lines began on May 28^th. The first week of June consisted of more preparations and working parties, under heavy bombardment from the German lines.

The main objective for the Irish Divisions was to capture the village of Wyschaete and the ridge it sat on. This phase began with the bombardment of the German trenches for five days before the explosion of land mines under German strong points facing the Irish troops at 4.10 a.m. on 7^th June. Immediately after the explosion of the mines, the main infantry assault followed, under a creeping barrage.

The war diary hails the attack on Wyschaete was a great success, which exceeded the wildest dreams of the General Staff, but expressed regret at the heavy losses among officers, other ranks are not mentioned. Steadily, targets were achieved according to schedule. By 8.50 am on 7 June 1917, the Irish had taken the village and they immediately began to consolidate their new lines.

Samuel Vamplew died on June 7^th 1917, he is commemorated at Irish House Cemetery, his gravestone includes the words:

Sleep on dear brother until the daybreak.

Private Abraham Hall: 8^th June 1917

Abraham Hall was one of eight children born to farm labourer Richard Hall and his wife Elizabeth, of Station Road, Alford. In 1901 Abraham was recorded as a boarder in Sausthorpe, he worked as a waggoner on a farm. By 1911, aged 34, he was living and working as a farm labourer at Dexthorpe.

Private Hall enlisted in September 1916 in the 3^rd Lincolns but transferred to the 6^th Battalion for Foreign Service. The 6^th battalion Lincolnshire Regiment entrained at Albert on 17^th May 1917 for their move towards the forthcoming operations at the Messines Ridge. Their role was to pass capture a trench system to the East of Wytschaete once it had been taken by the 16^th (Irish) Division.

The battalion were positioned among the guns when the 19 mines went up at dawn on June 7^th. Narratives from the time describe the scene as dawn was breaking:

There was a sudden rumbling of earth, huge flames shot up, clouds of smoke, dust and debris, a rocking of the ground – as the 19 mines went up. Before one was able to regain one’s normal faculties, there was another deafening crash as the barrage roared out from a thousand guns. The 6^th Lincolnshire …were almost stunned by the ear splitting din of the monsters as they roared and poured a hail of big shells on the wretched Germans.

At 3pm another barrage was scheduled to provide cover for the 6^th battalion to attack their objective. By 5pm they had succeeded having encountered very little opposition until the last, and few casualties. At dusk the Germans began heavy shelling, wiping out one platoon of C Company. In the early hours of the 8^th June a second counter attack developed.

Abraham Hall was killed in action on 8^th June 1917, among those he left behind was his twin brother Christopher. The boys were born on Christmas day in 1877. Christopher served with the 18^th battalion Sherwood Foresters being wounded twice during the War. At the time of his death in 1953 Christopher was still living in Station Road, Alford.

Private Abraham Hall is commemorated at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Lance Corporal Thomas Edwin Neville Wright: 19^th June 1917

Thomas was born in Legbourne, one of nine children born to insurance agent Edwin Wright and his wife Betsy. By 1911 the family were living in Dashwood Road, Alford; Thomas was 16 years old and worked as a grocer’s errand boy. The birth details of his siblings suggest that the family had lived in Alford for around 8 years.

Thomas Edwin Neville Wright enlisted in Alford and served with 5^th Battalion Lincs. Regiment. On 15^th June 1917 the 5^th Battalion were moved into reserve at Bully-Grenay, about 12 miles North of Arras. Here they were informed that they were to attack the defences of Lens as a prelude to a larger operation. They spent the afternoon of the 17^th in attack training. The following day they moved up to the front line where large quantities of supplies had to be carried up to the front in preparation. A bomb and small arms dump was also created.

Tuesday 19^th June was a hot day, just after noon the men were fitted out for the attack; their objective being the capture and consolidation of a section of the enemy trench system. Thomas Wright is thought to have been in A company, one of the assault companies. At 2.30pm the advance began and A Company reached their objective without difficulty. B Company met heavy resistance which checked their advance as two sergeants and their Company Commander were wounded. Quick thinking by the Lewis gunners provided cover and enabled Company Sergeant Major Harry Brown of Alford to assume command and rally the men. The positions were consolidated as repeated counter attacks were repelled.

The records surrounding Thomas Wright’s death are contradictory. The Roll of Honour records the death of Thomas Wright as “died of wounds” on June 19^th 1917. Commonwealth War Grave documents and military soldier’s effects records describe L/Cpl Thomas Wright as “killed in action” on June 19th. This is further complicated by Boston Guardian reports, printed 30^th June 1917, that T.Wright of Alford (Lincs. Regiment)  died of wounds on June 21^st 1917.

Lance Corporal Thomas Edwin Neville Wright is buried in Loos British Cemetery, in the Pas de Calais region. He was 22 years of age, his Gravestone reads:

“Until the daybreak and the shadows flee away”

Company Sergeant Major Harry Brown of Alford was awarded the Military Cross for his role in the above action.

Company Sergeant Major Harry Brown: 2nd July 2017

Harry Brown was born in Bilsby in 1882, one of four children born to Isaac and Eliza Brown. During his early years the family lived in a cottage at Brackenbrough Hall where Isaac worked as a gardener. By 1901 the family were living in West St. in Alford. Harry, aged 20, worked as a confectioner. Six years later he married Margaret, by 1914 the family included three sons and a daughter.

Harry Brown enlisted in Alford, and served with the 5^th battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. On 13^th October 1915 CSM Brown was wounded during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. The following Summer he was sent home once more, this time suffering from trench fever. On Easter Monday 1917 Harry Brown left his home for the third time.

In May and June 1917 the 46^th Division carried out a series of minor operations on German defences at Lens. CSM Harry Brown was awarded the Military Cross for his part in one of the most successful attacks on the 19^th June 1917. The London Gazette provides details of the award…

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack upon en’emy trenches. Owing to the company commander being wounded, almost at once, he took command of his company in the assault and led it with great success to its objective in spite of many casualties. He showed great promptitude in organising a further attack when the advance was temporarily checked, which .carried the position. He afterwards displayed great personal gallantry and untiring energy in consolidating the position and in repulsing several counter-attacks. His behaviour cannot be too highly commended.

The main operation took place on 1^st July. The objective of the 5^th battalion was the Cite de Moulin, where many of the houses were barely standing. Cellars connected the ruins and provided fortified machine gun posts. Simpson describes the heavy fighting among the houses of the Cite, where daylight gradually revealed the positions of the Lincolnshire’s.  

Hundreds of tons of explosives were hurled by the enemy at the devoted troops, clinging with great courage and tenacity to their precarious positions.               _{CR Simpson: History of the Lincolnshire Regiment}

CSM Brown was seriously wounded on 1^st July, he died the following day. Harry Brown is commemorated at the Noeux-les-mines communal cemetery. His headstone is inscribed with the words:

Life’s Crown Well Won

Private Scott Burkitt: 4^th July 1917

Scott Burkitt was born in 1883, one of nine children born to agricultural labourer Joseph Burkitt and his wife Fanny. By 1901 Scott was working as a milk boy, in the 1911 census he is recorded as being 26 years old and working as a fruiters drayman, an occupation he continued to hold in April 1916 when he was called up for military service at the age of 32.

Private Burkitt enlisted in Lincoln, serving initially with the 9^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. He embarked on 24^th July 1916, reaching the front in August, where he served with the 1^st Battalion.

Major General Simpson’s History of the Lincolnshire regiment provides little information regarding the movements of the 1^st battalion at the beginning of July 1917. A brief paragraph reports that from 30^th June, when the 1^st Battalion returned to the front line, to the 16^th September there is nothing to record of special interest in the life of the battalion. However men continued to lose their lives during such quiet periods.

The Battalion diary records the return of the 1st battalion to the front line relieving troops along a line of posts to the North West of Fontaine-lès-Croisilles. The front line consisted of a line of advanced posts garrisoned by 15 to 30 men. The relief was completed by 2.30am on July 2^nd .Over the next few days repairs to the posts and trenches were carried out during daylight, at night small working parties wired the front.

On July 4^th at 5am the rain fell heavily, friendly aeroplanes flew very low over enemy lines, drawing fire but to no effect. Enemy movements were visible behind their lines during the day. At 11pm one of the advanced posts was approached by a strong enemy patrol, they were dispersed by fire from the Lewis guns. Casualties to the battalion are simply recorded as one- other rank- killed, and one – other rank- wounded.

Private Scott Burkitt was the man killed on 4^th July 1917. Military records make the circumstances appear ordinary, almost mundane, but Fanny Burkitt lost her son, two years later she would also lose his brother Jesse who died of his wounds in 1919. Private Scott Burkitt is commemorated at Boyelles Communal Cemetery.

Private William Arthur Crowson: 16^th July 1917

William Arthur  Crowson  was one of seven children born to small farmer William Crowson and his wife Emma of Farlesthorpe Rd, Bilsby. In 1901, aged 15, William lived with his family in Bilsby and worked as a gamekeeper. By 1911 he was living as a boarder in Grimsthorpe, Bourne his occupation remained that of a gamekeeper. In February 1914 William married Lucy Ethel Bates at Aslackby.

Private Crowson enlisted at Bourne on 14^th June 1916, the following October he embarked for France with the 6^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. All of the Lincolnshire battalions were involved in the battles of the Somme. The 6^th moved away from the front line following the battle of Thiepval Ridge at the end of September. When they returned mid-November it was, as described by Major General Simpson “ to a wretched part of the battlefield, a ravine west of Beaucourt, where the front line consisted largely of shell holes, unconnected, and full of mud and water. Here the battalion came under heavy fire. Private Crowson was wounded in action in early December 1916, he spent a month in a field hospital and convalescent camp due to a gunshot wound on his left side. He returned to the field on 29^th December 1916. The 6^th were out of the line during February and March 1917, returning to the front line mid-April. They took part in the battle of Messines Ridge on 7^th June 1917, where William’s younger brother Sydney died while serving with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

From 1^st to 15^th July 1917 6^th Lincolnshire’s were training then reserve positions were taken in the St Jean sector of the Ypres Salient. They were accommodated in the dug outs or shelters on the Eastern banks of the Yser Canal. The canal afforded some protection and shelling was light.  However casualties were sustained between the 15^th and the 17^th by night working parties and the blowing up of a dump West of the canal.

Private William Arthur Crowson died on 16^th July 1917 while serving with the 6^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. There are no reports of specific incidents in the battalion diaries other than the brief sentences above. Private Crowson commemorated at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, his gravestone reads “He died that we might live”.

Private Cuthbert Leslie Vear: 31^st July 1917

Cuthbert Leslie Vear was one of seven children born to Georgina and David Vear. Cuthbert was born in July 1888, his father David Vear, a local grocer and provisioner, died in March 1890 and the family moved to Hamilton Place. By 1911 Cuthbert was living as a boarder in Oundle where he worked as shop assistant for a bookmaker and newsagent. In 1915 he married Rebecca Green in the Oundle district.

Private Cuthbert Vear enlisted in Peterborough and served with the 22^nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. During the last week of July 1917 these men were holding the line at Zouave Wood, Ypres. The front line in this area had been static since the close of the first battle of Ypres in November 1914. The British were preparing for a new offensive on 31^st July, the battalion war diary provides details of their situation.

On the evening of 30^th July the battalion was occupying the Ritz dug outs. At 9pm they moved to their assembly trenches via Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Regent Street. Artillery was active on both sides and considerable difficulty was experienced owing to the muddy and damaged state of the communication trenches, the night was dark and inclined to rain. Energetic British patrols kept the enemy at his front line. “Thus he had not the slightest inkling of our pending attack”

Zero hour was at 3:50am and the barrage came down with a tremendous roar, the Battle of Passchendaele had begun. The battalion reached their objective “Jacob Trench” by 5:30am consolidating their position and establishing HQ. They held their line all day despite continual heavy shelling from the enemy and heavy casualty numbers in consequence. After an uncomfortable night the men were relieved at 6am on 1^st August.

Private Cuthbert Leslie Vear was killed in the field on 31^st July 1917, he was 29 years old. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres. Cuthbert’s elder brother William died on the Somme in September 1916.

Flight Sub Lieutenant Maurice Nelson Baron: 15^th August 1917

Maurice Nelson Baron was born on 5^th October 1898 in Allora, Queensland, Australia. He was named after his 3 times great grandfather the Rev. Maurice Suckling whose daughter, Catherine, was the mother of Admiral Lord Nelson from where his second name came. His parents were English and the family returned to England in 1903. In 1911 the Reverend Canon Baron and his family were living in the Vicarage in East End, 12 year old Maurice was residing at Christs Hospital School in Horsham Sussex, he also attended school at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Alford.

Maurice joined the Royal Naval Air Service in early 1917 and was promoted to Flight Sub-Lieutenant in May of that year having completed his flying training at Cranwell on 28th April. Following a spell in hospital he was posted on 2nd August 1917 to No.12 Squadron based at Hondschoote Belgium.  On his arrival on 14th August he was sent on a 15-minute test flight in a Sopwith Camel.  This was a very advanced fighter aircraft for its day, but it was notoriously difficult to control in the hands of an inexperienced pilot. However the young and inexperienced Flight sub-Lieutenant was ordered up on his first operational flight on the same afternoon. The last that his comrades saw of him was when he was engaged in combat with a German fighter plane. He was no match for the experienced German and was shot down to the west of Slype, behind German lines.

The 18 year old young man was originally buried in the German cemetery at Ghistelles where grave records reflect his date of death as 14^th August 1917. At the end of the war Flight Sub-Lieutenant Baron’s remains were reburied at the Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery, near Nieuwpoort, Belgium, later military records, along with those of the Imperial War Graves commission, record his death as the 15^th August 1917. The inscription on his gravestone reads:

“They shall mount up with wings as eagles”

Maurice Nelson Baron’s life is commemorated with a stained glass window in St Wilfrid’s Church, and his name appears on the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School’s honour board. The Reverend Canon Baron finally left Alford in February 1921 for Barsham Rectory in Suffolk.

Private Walter Stanley Coult: 22^nd August 1917

(Walter) Stanley Coult was one of seven children born to Arthur Coult and his wife Eliza of Hamilton Place Alford. Arthur Coult was a highly respected tailor, and an active member of St Wilfrids Church. By 1911 Walter, aged 14, was living in Addlethorpe and working as a waggoner on his Uncle’s farm.

Private WS Coult enlisted in Spilsby in 1915 and served with the 6^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. In early July Stanley returned to the front from time on leave spent in Alford with his family and friends. The 6^th battalion were frequently on the front line through the final weeks of July and the beginning of August in the area North of Ypres, being accommodated in dug outs along the Yser canal. Wet and stormy weather resulted in appalling conditions as described in despatches:

The low-lying, clayey soil, torn by shells and sodden with rain, turned to a succession of muddy pools. The valleys of the choked and overflowing streams were speedily transformed into long stretches of bog, impassable except by a few well-defined tracks which became marks for the enemy’s artillery. To leave these tracks was to risk death by drowning, and in the course of the subsequent fighting on several occasions both men and animals were lost in this way.  _{Major C.R.Simpson, The History of the Lincolnshire Regiment}

Late at night on August 21^st orders were given that the 6^th Lincs were to detail one platoon to attack Bulow Farm in conjunction with two tanks and a second platoon in support. The attack was to be made under cover of creeping artillery fire and smoke cover. The attack was launched at 3:30am and by 6:40am consolidation of the advanced position had begun. Private Stanley Coult was killed in action that day, he was 21 years old. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing.

In this stage of the Flanders Offensive, between 31^stJuly and the 10^th November 1917, the Lincolnshire Regiment would suffer over two thousand casualties, killed, wounded and missing. In his memoirs Ludendorf noted that the fighting in Flanders had a disastrous effect on the moral of the German army.

Gunner James William Tweddle: 23^rd August 1917

James William Tweddle was one of four children born to Richard and Annie Tweddle of Hanby Field/Caroline Street Alford. Richard was the manager of the Alford Gas Works. In 1911 the census recorded 13 year old James at home with his parents and three sisters. In 1913 the family moved to a small holding in Burgh Le Marsh.

Gunner James Tweddle enlisted in Alford and served with the Royal Field Artillery, 155^th Brigade. Military records reveal that the Brigade was stationed alongside the Yser Canal and units were involved in the battles of the Flanders Offensive, the Third battle of Ypres. The 155^th Brigade War diary only provides a monthly summary of other ranks wounded so we do not know when James Tweddle was wounded. He is likely to have received some treatment in the field and then at a dressing station before being moved further behind the lines to the Casualty Clearing Station.

Records do show that he died of his wounds at number 64 Casualty Clearing Station which is situated around Proven. This CCS was named Mendinghem, other nearby CCSs were known as Bandaghem and Dozinghem. Typical Tommy humour for Mending’em, Bandaging’em and Dosing’em.  

Mendinghem appears to have specialised in mustard gas cases and head wounds. The use of gas in the field had been relatively minor in 1916, by late 1917 it would be ubiquitous. The first bombardment of Mustard Gas occurred on the 12^th to 13^th July at Ypres causing extensive British casualties. Following this initial success it was used in large quantities only diminishing slightly with the inset of Winter.

Gunner James Tweddle died of his wounds on August 23^rd 1917 at number 64 Casualty Clearing Station, he was twenty years old. He is commemorated at Mendinghem Military Cemetery, his gravestone reads: “an ideal son and brother”

Private Percy Hoodless: 23^rd September 1917

Percy Hoodless was born in Ailby in 1882, one of 8 children born to Robert and Eliza Hoodless. Robert died in early 1887, the family lived in Chapel Street, Alford. In June 1887 the Stamford Mercury reported the drowning of Percy’s older brother George, aged 9. The boys were playing in a field behind Park Lane when George got into trouble in a pit, Eliza is referred to as a poor widow. In 1891 Eliza is recorded as working as a Charwoman, Percy’s elder brothers are living at home working as a postman and a labourer. Ten years later Percy is recorded as a shoemaker, still living at home. In 1911, aged 29, he is working as a shoe repairer in Lincoln. Percy would have been 32 years old in 1914.

In September 1917 Private Hoodless was serving with the 7^th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. The war diary for the battalion records their presence at Klein Zillebeke located about one and a half miles south-east of Ypres. The Battle of the Menin Road began on 20^th September, the first of General Plumer’s “bite and hold strategy”. A small part of the front line would be heavily assaulted and the position rapidly consolidated after a short advance. A further wave of troops would pass on to the next objective.

 The bloody, muddy advances of Passchendaele were often secured by hand-to-hand fighting. With extensive trench systems impossible in the quagmire, gains were measured from shell-hole to shell-hole.                          _{http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/community/stories/remembrance/bravery-at-the-battle-of-menin-road/}

Secret orders issued on the 21^st September detailed the proposed movements of the 7^th South Lancs who were to take over from the 8 North Staffs and the 8^th Glouc’s regiments. On the morning of the 23^rd the war diary reports that fog deterred the enemy from shelling until 11am. The attacks were then targeted and the battalion HQ sustained casualties, no more details are provided. Private Hoodless was killed in action on 23^rd September 1917. The Battle of the Menin Road ended on 25^th September when a final German counter attack was repulsed.

Private Percy Hoodless is commemorated at Woods Cemetery, two and half miles from Ypres.

Gunner Wilfred Cecil Rhodes: 1^st October 1917

Wilfred Cecil Rhodes was born in 1893, the son of William and Annie Rhodes. The couple worked for the Great Northern Railway, Annie as a gatekeeper and William as a platelayer, they lived in Gatehouse Road at Well. Annie died in 1903, by 1911 Wilfred is recorded as living in Alford with his father and working as a cycle repairer.

Wilfrid Rhodes was a member of the Alford Company of territorials before the war and was retained on home service for nearly two years. In the early Summer of 1916 he went to France with the Lincolns, going on to serve as a Gunner in the Royal Tank Corps. All three brigades of tanks took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, the majority of attacks involving tanks during the latter part of September, and early October, took place along the Poelcappelle Road. Much of the ground in this area had become an impassable swamp with the remaining, barely passable, roads becoming heavily targeted areas.

The swamp like conditions of the Ypres Salient created the notorious tank cemeteries. Stuck in the mud the tanks became easy targets for German shells. A tank engineer officer instructed to oversee the demolition of disabled tanks in the area described the conditions he encountered:

The road was a complete shambles and strewn with debris, broken vehicles, dead and dying horses and men. I must have passed hundreds of them as well as bits of men and animals littered everywhere.  As I neared the derelict tanks the scene became truly appalling: wounded men lay drowned in the mud, others were stumbling and falling through exhaustion, others crawled and rested themselves up against the dead to raise themselves a little above the slush. On reaching the tanks I found them surrounded by the dead and dying; the men had crawled to them for what shelter they would afford. The nearest [tank’s …] doors were open, out of these protruded four pairs of legs, exhausted and wounded men had sought refuge in this machine, and dead and dying lay in a jumbled heap inside.  _{Quoted in: Tanks in the Great War: Brevet-Colonel JFC Fuller DSO}

 Gunner Wilfred Rhodes was killed on October 1^st by the bursting of a shell. He was 23 years of age. He is buried in Westouter Churchyard Extension along with two other Gunners from the Tank Corps who died on the same day.

Corporal Ernest Wells: 9^th October 1917

Roll of Honour: Corporal. 8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. 9th October 1917.

Ernest was one of ten children born to George and Sarah Wells of Alford. He was born in 1896 and the 1901 census recorded the family living in Dashwood Road, George worked as a gardener. In 1911 the census captured the entire family at home in Parsons Lane, George worked as a bricklayer’s labourer, Ernest is shown as a machinest, he was 14 years old. The family of twelve shared four rooms.

Corporal Ernest Wells served with the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), 1st/8th (Leeds Rifles) 8th Battalion, part of the 146th Brigade of the 49th (West Riding) Division. In early October 1917 the Battalion were involved in the preparations for the next action in the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Poelcapelle. The daily routine began with a March to the next destination on their designated route, followed by training. The war diary provides a record of their practices in attack formations and movements, physical training, musketry, and night work.

On the morning of 8^th October the men moved from their camp at Vlamertinghe to St Jean, where they had dinner and were issued with sandbag bombs and other stores. That evening the battalion left for their assembly position, the war diary describes the hours from the evening of the 8^th to the attack on 9th October…

At 5pm, in heavy rain, the battalion moved … off to their assembly position. This entailed a 12 hour march in single file along trench grids. Owing to the darkness, gaps in the grids and halts the rear company only arrived in assembly position, for the attack west of Passchendale, five minutes before zero. In spite of almost insufferable difficulties of weather conditions and ground the battalion advanced under barrage towards its objectives. Owing to high casualties among officers and NCOs the position became obscure. Much hostile machine gun fire and sniping was encountered, eventually the battalion dug itself in after an advance of about 300 yards at Kronprinz Farm.

The battalion held on to their position until they were relieved the following day. The relentless machine gun and rifle fire which had swept the line of advance resulted in very heavy casualties, the Company in which Ernest served -A company – suffered the highest losses. 

Corporal Ernest Wells died on the 9^th October 1917, he was 21 years old, Ernest is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Lance Corporal Samuel Hackford: 20^th November 1917

Samuel Hackford was born in 1880 in Ludborough. He was one of five children born to farm labourer John Hackford and his wife Lucy. The 1891 census provides details of the family living in Dashwood Road, Alford.

Samuel joined the Lincolnshire Regiment in September 1897, in Grimsby. Pension documents reveal a further fifteen years of service, including 11 in India and two in Aden. During the Great War Private Hackford initially remained with the Lincs. Regiment but later served with the Notts and Derby Regiment and finally the 12^th Battalion Norfolk Regiment.

The 12^th Norfolk Yeomanry was formed in Egypt in February 1917, part of the 230^th Brigade of the 74^th Yeomanry Division. They took part in the failed attack on Gaza in April 1917. Morale was very low, water was scarce and the men suffered terribly from dysentery and malaria. Following the attack they were forced to dig in:

In June the newly appointed leader of the Egyptian Exp. Force General Allenby arrived with orders from Lloyd George to capture Jerusalem by Christmas. The heat of the summer months enabled the men to rest, some with leave in Cairo, unbroken sleep, unlimited bathing, clean sheets, books and beer were popular comforts they mention. Medical records suggest others. At the end of the summer specialised training in night marches and the ability to survive on limited water were the focus for men and animals. Washing was restricted but shaving and tea were excepted from restrictions.

At the end of October the third battle for Gaza was launched, aided by diversionary tactics and information provided by T.E Lawrence the British captured Gaza on the 6^th November. General Allenby famously walked into Jerusalem on the 9^th December 1917.

Lance Corporal Samuel Hackford died in “A” hospital in Egypt on the 20^th November 1917. At 37 years of age he had spent over 20 years in military service, much of it in the East. He is buried at Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery.

Corporal Sydney Brewer: 4^th December 1917

Sydney Brewer was one of five children born to James Millin Brewer and his wife Margaret.  The family had a long connection with the railways, Sydney and his brothers are listed as Clerks on various censuses, by 1911 his father was the Station Master at Alford and his Grandfather is recorded previously as an engine driver.  At the time of his enlistment Sydney was living on Grafton St, in Camden, also the site of a Railway Station but we do not have his occupation.

Corporal Sydney Brewer served with the 19^th London Regiment, serving in France from 10^th March 1915, part of the 47^th Division. On November 20^th 1917 a mass tank attack on the Hindenberg line had gained valuable high ground at Bourlon Wood.  Nine days later, amid fierce attack and counter attack the 47^th took over this area.  Alan Maude’s book on the 47^th (London) Regiment includes the fate of the 19^th battalion…

Corporal Sydney Brewer died of wounds on 4^th Dec 1917, at No 3 general hospital in France, he was 23. He is buried at Mont Huan Military Cemetary, Le Treport, his gravestone reads:     

Faithful unto Death

Lance Sergeant Herbert Brown: 6^th December 1917

Herbert William Brown was born in Ulceby, one of three children born to Walter Joseph Brown and his wife Eliza. In 1901 the family were living in Parsons Lane, Walter is recorded as a wheelwright, Herbert aged 9 had a younger brother, Harry, and a sister Hilda Rose, both born in Alford. By 1911 the family were living in Commercial Rd, Walter’s brother Edward is also present, but the record reflects that they have now lost one child and Harry is absent.

Lance Sergeant Herbert Brown enlisted in Alford, he served with the 2/5^th Lincolnshire Battalion part of the 177^th Brigade, 59^th Division. The Battle of Cambrai began on 20^th November with a strong tank attack by the British. On 27^th November Herbert’s battalion marched to Trescault where they camped in tents and Bivouacs at Northern end of Havrincourt Wood. During the early hours of November 29^th they endured a direct shell attack on their trenches where they had taken over a portion of the old Hindenburg support line SW of Flesquieres.

During the first few days of the fierce German counter attack Lance Sergeant Brown’s battalion were occupied digging trenches around Flesquieres for defence purposes. On 3^rd Dec they took over on the front line from the North Staffords, a line which ran from the South Eastern corner of Bourlon Wood, an area Major Simpson describes as a “valley was full of gas, and Bourlon Wood was a death trap”.

As the ferocious enemy attacks continued the decision was taken to withdraw as the gains were unsustainable. The 2/5^th held a line North of Flesquieres in the area of Graincourt, Simpson notes that digging in in this area was virtually impossible “as the ground was frozen solid for about a foot or more”.

Following the withdrawal, the German infantry slowly advanced to recover the vacated ground. Their early arrival in Graincourt on the 6^th December, anticipated for the 7^th, resulted in hand to hand fighting as no orders had been received to evacuate the forward position.

The small numbers in the outpost position showed excellent spirit in a very trying situation, in spite of casualties.

Lance Sergeant Herbert Brown was killed in action on 6^th December 1917, he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louveral.

1918

Private Frederick William Kemp: 25^th January 1918

Frederick William Kemp was born in Alford in 1884, the first son for local Chemist Robert Kemp and his wife Lydia, following four daughters. Fred’s brother Sidney followed three years later. The family lived on Thoresthorpe road, and by 1911 Fred was working as an assistant to his father. The family had suffered the loss of Margaret, their youngest daughter in April 1907.

Private Kemp enlisted in Louth and served initially with the 6^th, and then with the 2^nd, Lincolnshire Battalion. The battalion had suffered terrible losses in the Battle of Langemarck in Aug 1917 and came out of the line for some months.

In mid-November they returned to the front line near Passchendaele, and once again suffered heavy losses under relentless shelling for two days. During the bitter Winter of 1917/1918 the 2^nd Battalion would endure the quagmire of Passchendaele twice more. On 2^nd December they were detailed as assaulting troops. The march to the front line took the first company 5 hours along duckboard track under enemy shelling. The porridge like mud, which engulfed men whole, surrounded them. They advanced to the attack at 1:55am under heavy machine gun fire, once again heavy losses, casualties and missing were recorded with 18 killed, 73 wounded and 25 missing.

The men moved out of the camp at St Jean, travelling to Wizerne by train and then to Boisdinghem, where they celebrated Christmas on December 23^rd 1917. They moved back to the front line near Passchendaele at the end of the month. The 2^nd Lincolnshires commenced New Year in muddy waterlogged trenches marching out on the night of the 18^th/19^th January 1918.

Private Fred Kemp died on 25^th January 1918, military records do not record his death as “killed in action” or “died of wounds” but simply died. The place of his burial at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, 80 miles to the West of Passchendaele, was the site of a large hospital centre and suggests that Fred may have been ill or wounded prior to his death.

Private Frederick William Kemp’s gravestone reads:

“To fall sleep is not to die, to lie with Christ is better life”

Gunner Arthur Hodgson: 3^rd April 1918

Arthur Hodgson was born in North Thoresby to Peter and Diana Hodgson. The 1901 Census recorded 7 year old Arthur as living with his parents and older sister Mary in Trusthorpe. Peter Hodgson was a farmer and employer, 10 years later the family were living in Hagnaby and Arthur worked on the farm.

Gunner Arthur Hodgson enlisted in Spilsby early in 1917, going to France the following September. Arthur’s section joined the 110th Seige Battery. In April 1918 the Boston Guardian reported that “Signaller Arthur Hodgson RGA” had died of wounds, the funeral had taken place in Alford.

A signaller operated as a connecting link between attacking infantry and firing artillery. These men were frequently despatched with a reel of wire and a telephone to send back first-hand information. The necessity of repairing damaged cables under fire ensured that the job had a reputation as a quick way to glory.

Aubrey Wade captured the signaller’s environment on the opening of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front, following a time of “treacherous silence”, on 21st March 1918 …

Arthur Hodgson died at Bath War hospital on April 3rd, he was 24 years of age. We do not know when or how he was injured. The wounded were brought by hospital ship to Southampton and then transferred by train to hospital. The more seriously wounded were not subjected to a long transfer which may be why Arthur was moved to Bath. Signaller Arthur Hodgson’s funeral took place at Alford Cemetery on Monday 8th April 1918.

Lance Corporal Arthur Stephen Baggley: 5^th April 1918

Arthur Stephen Baggley was one of nine children born to tailor Robert Baggley and his wife Charlotte. Alford Parish Records show his baptism as January 2^nd 1884. By 1911 Robert had died, Arthur aged 27 worked as a tailor, he remained at home with his widowed mother and four brothers. In 1912 Arthur married Laura Bottomley, recent widow of publican William Bottomley from the Half Moon.

Arthur Baggley enlisted in Louth, serving with the 8^th battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. During 1917 the 8^th had suffered particularly heavily casualties advancing under intense machine gunfire at the Battle of Broodseinde in October. Work for the remainder of 1917 was mostly out of the line, although Christmas was spent on the front line. On the eve of the German Spring Offensive the 8^th were in support in Canada Tunnels, about a mile from Zillebeke. On 29^th March they entrained at Caestre, taking over the front line in the area of Gommecourt on 1^st April.

On 3^rd April orders issued for an attack on Rossignol Wood at 5:30am on 5^th. The eve of the attack was miserable with heavy rain and inky black. The weather had ensured that the tanks were unable to advance as planned, leaving the men to advance under heavy machine gun fire. They obtained their first objective quickly taking 150 prisoners with an additional 60 – 90 men killed. Two hours later they consolidated final objective.  At 9am lorries full of enemy troops were seen heading towards the wood and by midday the position of the 8^th was under threat. A staged withdrawal took place as the reinforced enemy overwhelmed the position. 12 hours from the initial advance the original front line was re-occupied. Heavy casualties and artillery damage had been inflicted on the enemy. The 8th Lincolnshires lost 28 men, 93 were wounded and 81 missing. The Brigadier reported on the battalions involved:

I consider that the behaviour of these battalions, which were composed largely of very young soldiers, was beyond all praise. _{History of the Lincolnshire Regiment: CR Simpson}

L/Corporal Arthur Baggley died on 5^th April 1918, he was 34 years old. He is commemorated at Gommecourt British Cemetery.

In December 1916 the Alford Parish Roll of Honour listed 8 members of the Baggley family serving their country. Arthur’s cousin Sgt John Baggley was awarded the Military Cross earlier that year.

Lance Corporal George Wilkinson: 6^th April 1918

George Wilkinson was the younger of two boys born to Alford baker James Wilkinson and his wife Maria. The family are recorded as living on West St

On the 1901 and 1911 census. In 1911 George is working as a baker’s apprentice, his brother Fred is a stationer’s apprentice.

George enlisted in Alford and served with the 4^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, part of the 59^th division, 177^th Brigade from February 1918. At the opening of the Spring Offensive on March 21^stthe battalion were in reserve.

The intensity of the opening bombardment at the Battle of St Quentin led to the men being moved immediately to the support line where they dug in under the roar of bursting shells and terrific machine gun fire. Late in the afternoon of the 22nd masses of Germans were spotted swarming to right of their position forcing withdrawal back to Mory. Later that evening further retirement was necessary as the German advance penetrated the village in considerable numbers. Despite a night of heavy machine gun fire and shelling on enemy targets the position of the 4^th was untenable and a further withdrawal was ordered to high ground South East of Ervillers. This required movement across five to six hundred yards of open country, under very heavy machine gun fire and heavy casualties were sustained.

Major Simpson later wrote:

“… we had lost a ground of valuable nature, [along with] huge quantities of stores, ammunition and prisoners, but the glorious spirit of officers and men knew no defeat and whenever possible …men fought, not with the courage of despair, but in the fine conviction that they would hold the German and eventually defeat him”   _{The History of the Lincolnshire Regiment 1914-1918}

The 4^th Battalion were forced to retire further West on both the 24^th and 25^th March. On the 27^th the battalion marched to Sus-St Leger, and then on to Houdain. By early April they were in trenches to the East of Ypres. The Battle of St Quentin was the last heavy fighting George is likely to have endured, he died of wounds on 6^th April 1918. He was 21 years old.

Lance Corporal George Wilkinson is commemorated at Mendinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium.

Private Charles Melbourne Arrowsmith: 9^th April 1917

Charles was one of four children born to railway platelayer Charles Arrowsmith and his wife Ann Maria. Parish records show Charles’ baptism in Alford in April 1889 but in 1891 the family are recorded as living in Louth. By 1901 the family had returned to Alford, Charles is listed alongside a younger sister Florrie and brother Albert, they lived on Finsbury Street. Ten years later the family remained in Finsbury St, 22 year old Charles was working as a compositor in the printing industry.

Private Arrowsmith served with the 10^th Battalion, Kings Liverpool Regiment (KLR). Following a period of rest and training, the 10^th returned to the line at the beginning of April 1918. During the first few days they were occupying front line and support trenches South of La Basee Canal. The diary notes that enemy artillery and aeroplanes were “rather active” and had succeeded in bringing down five observation balloons. A scout party captured an enemy prisoner from opposing trenches and sniper activity was ongoing. On the 7^th April the battalion were relieved and went into billets at Mesplaux Farm and Le Hamel.

At 4am on 9^th April a heavy German bombardment began, the battalion moved up at 5:30am under intense shelling. Some companies took a direct route across the fields while others had to retrieve ammunition via the roads. The shelling continued for five hours, when the enemy opened up an attack on a wide front. The KLR held off that attack but on the left the Portugese retired and a defensive flank had to be formed. Military records contain the typed narratives of some soldiers:

We had hardly got clear of [the] farm before shells commenced to improve the marching capabilities of us all. … On approaching Loisne Chateau things became a bit warmer especially gas shells which necessitated putting gas masks on. Up to now, despite the heavy barrage, our casualties had been very slight but now things became tropical.  Although the barrage was very heavy, and our casualties considerable, the spirit was remarkable.                                                            _{Corporal Kevan – Y Coy}

Every man was on the “Qui Vive” and special anxiety was notable during the early hours because of the mist which hung about making observation very difficult. …Our casualties were fairly heavy, nearly all of them occurring whilst occupying the line, very few being hit on the way up. _{Sgt Bell Z Coy}

Private Charles Arrowsmith was killed in action on 9^th April 1918 he is commemorated on the Loos memorial in France.

The roll of honour shows the date of death as 1917. Military records, CWGC and the battalion diary substantiate 1918.

Private George Percy Riggall: 16^th April 1918

George Percy Riggall was the youngest son of Frederic Riggall and his wife Lucy, who farmed at Well. George was known as Percy, born in 1890, he was one of seven children born to Major Riggall. Percy was educated at Alford Grammar School and served two years with the English territorials. In 1909 Percy emigrated to Canada where he farmed in Redvers, Saskatchewan, Manitoba. The 1911 census  shows him living alone in Redvers, aged 20.

Private Riggall joined the Canadian overseas expeditionary force on 21^st February 1916. The Machine Gun Companies were initially attached to individual infantry units the arrangement was inefficient. Infantry Commanders lacked the specialist expertise in the operational capabilities of the machine guns. This led to the creation of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps on 16^th April 1917. New training regimes were implemented for officers and gunners in the field. In January of 1918 this was supplemented by further instruction in anti-aircraft firing, an effort to counter the weaknesses highlighted by low flying enemy aircraft at Passchendaele. The machines of war, machine guns and aircraft planes, were evolving very quickly.

Canadian Machine Gunners won their “spurs” at Vimy Ridge in April 1917. The following October they built upon the months of training that Summer when they faced the mud of Passchendaele. Despite very heavy casualties, many due to low flying enemy aircraft, their effective performance in communication and the defence of captured ground was applauded by Canadian Corps Command

During the third week of March 1918 the 1^st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun were building machine gun emplacements at Vimy Ridge. By 24^th March they were heavily engaged working with the Fifth Army, close to Villers Bretonneux, the operations continued to April 10th. Once again enemy shelling and snipers targeted the Machine Gunners.

Private George Riggall died of a fractured skull, caused by a gunshot wound, at no 42 casualty clearing station.  He is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery.

Private Charles William Blades: 23^rd April 1918

Charles William Blades was born in Ulceby in 1894, the only child of John and Martha Blades, his father worked as a cattleman. Charles married Margaret Annie Morgan on 15^th November 1915, in Alford. Records suggest that they may have had a son, Charles D Blades, late the following year.

Charles enlisted in Alford, at the time of his death he served with the 2^nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, part of the 23^rd Brigade, 8^th Infantry Division.

The 8^th had suffered heavy casualties at the end of March 1918 when enemy troops crossed the Somme.  The Division covered a nine mile front facing an attack from twenty enemy divisions. The 23^rd Brigade had a particularly hard fought withdrawal. The majority of the 2^nd West Yorkshire Regiment were killed or captured during the severe fighting. On 30^th March 1918 only 100 men remained.

Drafts of new young soldiers were brought in to replace the horrendous losses of 8^th Division in the previous month, over four and a half thousand men. One Australian recalled:

…For two days companies of infantry have been passing us on the roads – companies of children, English children; pink faced, round cheeked children, flushed under the weight of their unaccustomed packs,          _{British 8th Infantry Division on the Western Front, 1914-1918}

The 2nd West Yorkshires had received 11 officers and 700 other ranks in preparation for the forthcoming offensive. They were once again on the front line when the 8^th Division took over the Villers Bretonneux area from the 5^th Australian Division on the night of the 19/20^th April. Air activity was rife, and it was over this area that German air ace Manfred von Richthofen, “The Red Baron” was shot down on April 21^st.

On the afternoon of the 23^rd April surrounding villages were subjected to intense gas shelling. Shelling had been taking place over a few days, the expected enemy offensive towards Amiens was imminent. The main attack launched at dawn on the 24^th. The violent bombardment, intense machine gun fire, and unexpected appearance of German tanks through the thick mist, broke the lines immediately causing panic. The attack had virtually wiped out the 2^nd West Yorkshire battalion by 10:30am.

Private Charles Blades was recorded as killed in action on April 23^rd 1918. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

Private Herbert Lambert: 27^th May 1918

Herbert Lambert Middleton was the youngest of eight surviving children born to Charles and Lucy Lambert Middleton of Alford. In the 1901 census Herbert, aged 7, is listed at the family home in Finsbury Street along with four siblings. In 1911 he is recorded as a grocer’s errand boy and a Private in the territorials.

Herbert Lambert served on the home front from the beginning of the war, in the Spring of 1917 he joined the expeditionary force in France. The following October Pte Herbert Lambert was reported to have received a serious thigh wound, he later returned to the front line.

In April it was decided that five British Divisions would be moved in support of the French, all had been recently replenished with young drafts and were in no condition to take part in major operations. The 1st Lincolnshire moved from Flanders to Romigny to join the 6th French Army in a quiet area. At the end of May enemy activity increased and German Prisoners warned of a great hostile attack.

At 1am on 27 May 1918, 6,000 German guns opened fire on 24 miles of British and French front. At 3.40 am, with dawn still to break, the German infantry advanced. The 1st Lincolnshires moved to their assembly point at 5am, under poisonous gas attacks they donned their masks, finding themselves in the path of the onslaught. By 1pm the enemy had broken through and they were outflanked. At 3pm the men fell back, managing to hold the enemy until 8pm, being almost surrounded they were forced to withdraw once more.  By sunset, German units had advanced more than 12 miles into Allied territory, Soissons fell the next day.

In July 1918 the Boston Guardian reported that Herbert Lambert had been missing since May. Military records list Herbert’s date of death as “27th May 1918 or since” followed by the statement “officially accepted”.

Private Herbert Lambert is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial. His elder brothers, Bertie and John George died in 1916.

Private Walter Cuppleditch: 21^st August 1918

Walter Henry Cuppleditch was born in Alford, one of six surviving children, of nurseryman Alfred and his wife Zilpha. The family home centred on the Hanby Lane / Caroline Street area of Alford for many years. By 1911 Walter, aged 23, was working as a boot repairer and living with his aunt and uncle in Alford. In the Spring of 1912 he married Beatrice Field, a house and nursery maid to the Allis family in Bilsby. Walter and Beatrice had three children, Gladys, born in 1913, Frank born in 1914 and Hilda born in 1917.

Military records show that Private Cuppleditch initially served with the Sherwood Foresters. In March 1918 the Boston Guardian reported on his return to the front following 14 days home leave. By that time Walter had already served 12 months in France, his regiment was now the 1^st Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Walter then transferred to the Royal Irish Regiment, 2^nd Battalion. In early August 1918 the battalion slowly moved up the line. On 8^th August the battalion diary records that the men had watched a cricket match at Lounvencourt prior to their next move, to Contay then on to Henu.

Field Marshal Haig had made the decision to attack to the North, between Albert and Arras, where his tanks could be put to good use and where the Germans were less prepared. On the eve of 20^th of August Walter’s battalion moved into the assembly trenches close to Essart. At 4:53am on the morning of August 21^st the attack commenced their object being a Railway cutting to the West of Achiet le Grand. Thick fog made navigation extremely difficult and serious encounters required them to dig in and hold the line 500 yards short of their final objective.

Five divisions attacked in thick fog that morning, as a whole they reached their objective and took over 2 thousand German Prisoners. Walter Cuppleditch was killed in action on 21^st August 1918, his battalion fought in the area of Logeast Wood, an area noted in despatches as an area of vigorous enemy attacks and hard fighting.

Private Cuppleditch is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, panel 5.

His widow Beatrice, left with three young children, re-married in 1921.

Private Martin Wilkinson: 4^th September 1918

Martin Wilkinson was baptised in October 1876, one of 5 surviving children born to Farmer Matthew Wilkinson and his wife Bridget. Matthew farmed 107 acres at Farlesthorpe, following on from his own father. Martin was in his infancy when his father died and the family moved to Dashwood Road. In 1901 he was recorded as a boarder with the Clapperton family on Pendleton High St, Salford. Martin worked as a grocer’s assistant, his situation appears unchanged in 1911. At the outbreak of war Martin was 37 years old, in January 1916 he was under 41 and single, within the criteria for conscription if he had not already volunteered.

Private Martin Wilkinson served with the 5th Battalion Lancs. Fusiliers. Initially the battalion fought in Egypt and Gallipoli, moving France in February 1917. The men fought at Passchendaele the following September. The 42^nd division then spent some weeks on the Belgian coast at Nieuport, reorganising and assimilating new drafts before moving to Bethune in November. In 1918 they were involved in the various actions of the Somme 1918 : The Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras and the The Battle of the Ancre, The Battle of Albert and The Second Battle of Bapaume.

In his despatch of 21st December 1918 Sir Douglas Haig stated that

Haig’s assessment of the “Enemy in Retreat” belies the resistance still encountered. The 5th Lancs. Battalion moved up to Reincourt on 2nd September. The morning of the 3rd brought further evidence of German withdrawal as smoke arose from villages in enemy territory. The men took up assembly positions between Bus and Ytres to continue the advance on September 4th. Private Martin Wilkinson was killed in action on 4th September 1918, the Companies of the 5^th had encountered fierce machine gun fire from the enemy.  

Private Martin Wilkinson is commemorated at the Neuville –Bourjonval Cemetery.

Private Stanley Wilfrid Soole: 14^th September 1918

Stanley Wilfrid Soole was born in September 1898, one of five surviving children born to fisherman John Soole and his wife Hephzibah, in 1901 the family lived at 93 Burgess Street, in Grimsby. By 1911 Hephzibah and her son Stanley were living in Riby St. in Grimsby. Harry Keef, born Alford, a platelayer on the docks, was head of the household. Military records show Riby Street as Stanley’s home in 1916, a single man, and mineral water worker, most likely employed by William Hill & Son Mineral Waters, located close by.

Private Stanley Soole served with the 6^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, 33^rd Brigade, 11^th Division. In January 1916 his attestation papers record his age as 18 years.  Private Soole joined the field in France in November 1916. Within three weeks he would have been bivouacked in a ravine between Beaumont Hamel and Beaucourt, as the 6th provided working parties for the front line. The road was a mass of shell holes containing bodies of men and mules, the mud was knee deep and the shelling fierce. They held the line until January 1917, draining dug outs and constructing duckboard tracks. Periods of rest were passed in Englebelmer, sleeping in any old building with a roof amid the swarms of rats.

During 1917 the battalion saw action at Messines and Passchendaele, from October 1917 to August 1918 they were involved in holding the line, just North of Lens. In April 1918 the 6^th Lincs. were highly commended for a successful raid on enemy trenches. Some days later and again in May the battalion endured heavy enemy gas bombardments. 

Private Soole’s battalion were involved in the Canadian success in puncturing the Hindenburg line on 2^nd Sept 1918 and remained in the area of the Trinquis Valley facing the German stronghold across the river, amid the flooded marsh the enemy had created upon retreat. Heavy shelling and aerial bombardment continued.

Private Stanley Soole was killed in action on 14^th September 2018, he was originally buried in the area  at the Bois du Sart Cemetery at Pelves, before being moved to the Vis-en-artois British Cemetery at Haucourt.

Lance Corporal Wilfred Linsdell: 17^th October 1918

Wilfred Edwin Linsdell was born in 1893, one of two sons born to Alford baker Henry Linsdell and his wife Sarah. In 1911 the family were living on Carr Lane, Henry worked as a miller’s carter, his elder son Percy is listed as an ironmonger’s assistant and Wilfrid, aged 17 worked as a draper’s apprentice.

Lance Corporal Wilfred Linsdell had been a member of the territorial service prior to the war and was called up in August 1914. From February 1915 he served on the Western Front with the 5^th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. The 5^th were involved in the harsh fighting around Hill 70 from April to June 1917 when L/Cpl Linsdell’s name appeared in the “local men wounded” column of the Boston Guardian.

The 5^th were part of the 138^th Brigade within the 46^th Division. On the 29^th September 1918 they were to breach the Hindenburg Line, at the point where the line included the St Quentin Canal.  The 5^th battalion crossed the captured Riqueval Bridge and pushed forwards under a creeping artillery barrage. They were supported by 4 tanks which forged a path through wire and trench systems, as planned towards their objective. Pockets of strong resistance were encountered and casualties rose. Company Sergeant Major Mark Cousins, also from Alford, rallied the men and led them onwards to the main line of defences. Magny la Fosse was secured by 2.30pm. Having lost heavily in 1915 at the Hohanzollern Redoubt, and at Gommecourt in 1916 the success of the Lincolns in this action was widely applauded.

The push continued in the fight for Montbrehain but movement across the open ground and strong German opposition prevented them from securing the village. On 16^th October 1918 the 5^th assembled on the Bohain to Vaux Andigny road, the area was bombarded with both shrapnel and gas causing casualties. At 5:20am on the 17^th Lieut. Col. Wilson ordered the men into the mist. German machine gunners on the Bellenglise Ridge poured fire into them from behind while defenders in front also attacked. The brave action of small parties, often under the command of non-commissioned officers, slowly overtook the enemy. The Lincolnshires were relieved at 5:50pm. They had captured 150 prisoners and approximately 20 machine-guns but the price was high, 17 men from the 5^th battalion lay dead on the battlefield.

 Among the dead were several of the original members of the 5^th Lincs Battalion, including Lance Corporal Wilfred Linsdell. He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, panel 4.

Private Sidney Walter Small: 8^th November 1918

Sidney Walter Small was one of two sons born to Alford bootmaker, Joseph Small and his wife Mary Sophia. In 1901 the family are recorded as living on West Street, Sidney was 7 and his brother, George, 9. By 1911 Sidney’s mother is recorded as a widow, running the shoe and boot shop. Sidney was working as a Chemist’s Assistant. Upon enlistment in December 1915 Sidney is recorded as a Chemist.

Private Sidney Small enlisted in Piccadilly, London on 11^th December 1915. Initially he served in various battalions of the Royal West Surrey Labour Corps before transferring to the 15^th Loyal North Lancs. Regiment. Sidney remained on the home front during 1916, transferring frequently and quickly dropping back to the rank of Private at his own request following promotion to Acting Corporal. Private Small joined the British Expeditionary Force on 26^th Feb 1917, but a bout of influenza followed by trench feet put him on the casualty list, he returned to Dorset County Hospital on 21^st October 1917. He remained at the hospital until 7^th December.

Sidney was granted a brief furlough in Alford, before moving to Shoreham (Eastern Command) Depot on 17^th December 1917. Shoreham was one of 25 facilities created for the rehabilitation training of soldiers who were too fit for the convalescent camps but not yet fit enough to re-join their unit. Further medical problems remained and as late as March 1918 his records were stamped as unlikely to become fit. Finally, issued with new spectacles, and having been fined for returning 27 hours late from his final Draft Leave, he was posted back to France on 19^th June 1918,

Private Small joined the 15^th Battalion, Loyal North Lancs. Regiment (Pioneers) on 13^th July 1918. The Pioneers were part of the 14^th Division, working to repair the infrastructure in the wake of the advancing troops. In late October the battalion moved to Estaimpuis on the French/Belgium border. Battalion diaries do not record any specific attacks around the time of Private Small’s death on 8^th November, although seven men were wounded repairing shell holes on the 6^th. Military records simply state that Sidney died of wounds in France or Belgium.

Private Sidney Small is buried at St Andre Communal Cemetery in France.

This cemetery was used by the 11^th Casualty Clearing Station but the uncertainty surrounding the location of Sidney’s death suggests that he may have died before reaching there.

Pioneer Bernard Almond: 8^th November 1918

Pioneer Bernard Almond of East Keal was born in 1899 to Carpenter John William Almond and his wife Lizzie. The family were away from home in Essex at the time of the 1901 census. Lizzie died in 1904, leaving Bernard, aged 5, in the care of his father. The following year John Almond married Mary Ellerby and the three are recorded living in East Keal in 1911. In October 1914 Bernard is listed in Post Office records as a Learner at Spilsby.

When the Military Service Act came into force in March 1916 Bernard remained below the conscription age but in February 1917, shortly after his 18^th birthday he was deemed to have been enlisted. The Military Medical reports from 13^th February 1917 record his occupation as a Telegraphic Sorting Clerk and declare him fit. 

Letters from the Postmaster at Alford declare Bernard Almond to be a skilled telegraphist employed at the Post Office who should be transferred to Class W Signal Service for the army reserve. They confirm that Bernard’s private address in 1917 was Hamilton Road, Alford.

Bernard Almond was called up for service on 20^th February 1918, he was appointed to the Signal Service Training Centre in Bedford where, in September 1918, he underwent vaccinations.

Military records do not provide any further information on Pioneer Almond, his medical records do reveal that on 5^th November he was admitted to Bedford Military Hospital suffering from influenza, within three days he died.

The swift loss of Bernard Almond suggests that he may have died from the “Spanish Flu” epidemic which swept across the world in 1918-1919. The medical notes which accompany his admittance do refer to the influenza being aerobic, pulmonic and septic in nature, features mentioned in the studies of the pandemic at the time. It was the rapid onset septic pneumonia which resulted from the flu which claimed lives. Pioneer Almond’s death was attributed to pneumonia.

Pioneer Bernard Almond is commemorated in St Helen’s churchyard, West Keal.

Even conservative estimates of the total death toll from Spanish Flu exceed the death toll from WW1 losses. However as a percentage of the population for the main combatants of WW1 losses were considerably higher.

Private Jesse Burkitt: 27^th May 1919

Jesse Burkitt was born in Thurlby in January 1889, one of nine children born to agricultural labourer Joseph Burkitt and his wife Fanny. The family lived in Chapel St. for many years. In 1911 Jesse, aged 22, along with his brothers, John and Fred, was recorded as working in an iron foundry as a painter. The household they shared was that of his sister Iley and her husband Wright Hoodless, situated on the High Street in Lincoln.

Private Burkitt enlisted for service on 17^th November 1915 in Lincoln. Military records show that he remained on the home front until 29^th December 1916 when he embarked for France, serving with the 4^th Lincs. Battalion until 12^th January when he joined the 5^th Lincs.

Following a brief spell in a field hospital suffering from Scabies Jesse returned to duty 31^st March 1917. Five days later the battalion returned to the field North West of Lens many sleeping in cellars between patrols under intermittent shell fire. During May the raids and shelling by both sides were heavy and constant. In June the men were informed that they were to attack the enemy as a prelude to a larger operation. On the evening of the 18^th June the men moved up to the front line at Cite de Riaumont. At 2:30pm on June 19^th two Companies of the 5^th Lincs. opened the attack. They were met with fierce resistance, Company Sergeant Major Harry Brown of Alford took over from his injured Commander leading the men forward. The two attacking companies achieved their objective, CSM H Brown was awarded the Military Cross for his action, Pte Jesse Burkitt was among the wounded. Jesse was admitted to the 5^th Northern General Hospital in Leicester at the end of June, his brother Scott was killed a few days later. Jesse remained at the hospital for seven months.

The hospital was a former County Asylum, the 37 acre grounds were transformed into beautiful gardens with covered seating for the patients. There were many activities available both in the gardens and inside. Every ward had a piano, a 6 foot billiard table, and a gramophone with large supply of records. Every patient also received 40 cigarettes a week. Jesse returned to Alford, living with his mother on East St. Two operations to extract the shell had left him with a loss of muscle tissue around his hip and impaired movement.

Private Jesse Burkitt died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 27^th May 1919, he was 30 years old and is buried in Alford Cemetery.

Private Thomas Simpson: 24^th June 1919

Thomas Simpson was one of 11 children born to John and Eliza Simpson of Alford. The family lived on South St. where John worked as a brewer’s drayman. By 1911 Thomas, aged 14 was working as a “shop boy” for a local grocer.

In January 1914, aged 17, Thomas enlisted at Alford, he went on to serve in WW1 along with two of his brothers. Thomas initially served with the 5^th Lincolnshire Battalion, he transferred to the 4^th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment in June 1917. During February 1918 the 4^th Worcesters were in the area just to the North West of Ypres, around the village of Wieltje, when Private Simpson sustained injuries from a gas attack. He returned home on leave during the first two weeks of March but returned to the field with a cough and complained of pain in his left side.

Private Simpson’s military records show that he was moved to a Casualty Clearing Station in early June. He was transferred to England two weeks later on a small Belgian Mail Steamer the “Ville de Liege” which had been commandeered as a troop ship at the beginning of the war. Thomas was diagnosed with Tuberculosis of the lungs, the military assessment for pension purposes refers to the gas attack in February but notes that the cause of the TB is “constitutional”, the gas encountered during his military service was declared to have “aggravated” the condition. Private Thomas Simpson was officially discharged on the 12^th August 1918, he had served for 4 years and 195 days during which time his military conduct had been very good.

Thomas was 21 years old when he was discharged to a sanatorium, he lost his fight for life on 24^th June 1919.

Private Thomas Simpson was the last casualty of the First World War to appear on the Alford War Memorial. The Memorial Cross was unveiled just a few weeks later on Thursday 4^th September 1919, inclement weather prevented the planned drumhead ceremony taking place.  with the majority of the service being undertaken inside the church. The unveiling ceremony was performed by Lieut – Col TE Sandall CMG who commanded the 5^th Lincolns with which the Alford territorials was mobilised at the outbreak of war.  The dedication service was conducted by the Rev. WJ Carey, chaplain of the HMS Warspite at the Battle of Jutland Bank, assisted by Canon Baron.

At the close of the service the last post was sounded and a wreath of laurels was laid at the foot of the cross by Major Hadfield on behalf of the soldiers returned to the town, a large number of whom had marched from the Drill Hall to the church to pay a last tribute to their old comrades of the battlefield.

Private Simpson was laid to rest in Alford Cemetery.