Military History

Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Ploegsteert Memorial
Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
11 Nov 1914	~	Harbury
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted Date	Other Information
The Attack on Bas Maisnil	Recalled 4th August 1914
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Bas Maismil

Other Military Information

• Originally Enlisted 25 May 1893 at Warwick
• At enlistment Alfred said he was 18 but in fact was only 16
• Honourable Discharged on 23 May 1914
• Served for 21 Years
• Served in Malta, Egypt and India on the North West Frontier

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

December 18th 1914 - The Bn was ordered to advance in 3 lines at 4.30 pm to attack and take the Germans Trenches which were in front of Le MAISNIL. The attack was proceeded by a heavy artillery bombardment by our artillery to which the enemy made hardly any reply. Attack was started by "B" Company on the right led by Capt Haddon, advancing in 2 lines: A Co advanced on the left in 2 lines with D Coy in the centre. C Coy formed the third line with entrenching tools. A Machine Gun was on each flank. Immediately the attack opened, the enemy opened a very heavy rifle & machine gun fire. The Battalion advanced under this with steadiness, suffering very heavy casualties. The 2/Queens sent 1 1/2 companies in support & although our dead were found only a few yards from the German trenches, the attack failed in its objective. What remained of the Bn subsequently retired into our trenches. Shortly After daylight the enemy came out & started examining our dead. Parties went out fr. our lines & buried some of the officers & collected discs from some of the killed. Owing to 2 officers of the Queens & several small parties of the Bn, when engaged in carrying our wounded into the enemy's lines, (the enemy refusing to allow us to remove our wounded) being made prisoners, & also owing to Lt Bover S.Staffords being killed while helping to collect our wounded, the informal armistice terminated Lt Col Brewis was found killed about 40 yards from the enemys line. Capt. Brownfield, Lts. Monk, Tucker, Campbell & Birt (attached R.E) together with 34 men were found a few yards from a German Machine gun. From evidence available, it is apparent that Capt Brownfield though previously wounded continued to lead the attack on the Gun. Other ranks casualties - 57 Killed, 87 wounded, 219 missing.