Theatre

Action/Battle/Other

Battle of Aubers

Place of Death

nr Fromelles

Medals

Medal Citation (if app)

~

Enlisted Date/Place

Aug 1914 or before at Northampton

Previous Regiments/Units

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Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

The battalion were at the jumping off point in trenches and an orchard near Fromelles and were ordered to join a wider group of regiments along with the 1st Bn Northants in an attempt to go through German lines and capture Aubers Ridge. The following turned out to be one of, or the worst, day in the Regiments history in terms of casualties.

At 5.00am British artillery unleashed a fierce bombardment onto the German front lines but due to faulty ammunition and worn out gun barrells some of the shells fell short into the British lines causing casualties before the assault had begun. The 2nd Bn went over the top at 5.50am but as the did so they were hit by hurricanes of machine-gun, rifle and artillery fire just yards from the own positions and after a short time both the 1st & 2nd battalions had suffered enormous casualties and very few men reached their objectives and if the did they had to retire because of the intense gun fire. The attack ending in a miserable defeat and in total the 2nd Battalion suffered 984 casualties, or nearly 60% of their starting strengh. Alfred was killed during this time and his body, like so many others that day, was never recovered.

Trench Map for Fromelles to Aubers	Ploegsteert Memorial

Birth Date & Place

Baptism Date & Place

Parents

Oliver & Julia of Harborough Magna

Wife & Marriage

Children

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Occupation(s)

• 1911 - Career Soldier with 2nd Bn Northamptonshire

Schools & Colleges

Address History

• 1901 - The Street, Harborough Magna
• 1911 - Floriana Barracks, Malta

Other Information

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