Military History

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 18th November 1916, the final day of the Battle of the Somme. The 11th Battalion war diary for the period 17th to 19th November are transcribed below. Thanks to The Lonsdale Battalion website for their hard work on the transcription.

17 Nov 1916 - Trenches Redan Sector: Battalion left Englebelmer at 11pm full fighting order for trenches. Marched through Mailly Maillet and passed through “White City” having formed into single file sometime before. From this point the Battn went across the open headed by the C.O. towards trenches opposite Wagon road roughly running from K 35 c 54 to Q 5 a 58 occupying any trench back & front where we relieved the East Lancs & the North Lancs. The Battn on the way to these trenches passed under shell fire & casualties were caused. The behaviour of the men was good & after some difficulty the relief which was commenced at 1am was completed at 6am. The C.O. having got all Companies into trenches. The ground was very bad with wire & much cut about by shell fire.

Hostile shelling continued throughout and while in trenches the Battn suffered a few casualties. At 11am the C.O. went to Brigade Head Q for a conference. The Battn was in a position which was more or less reserve to the K.O.Y.L.I. with exception of one Company which occupied a portion of front line. The ground from Battn HQ K 35 c 6.0 towards Wagon Road was gone over by C.O. & the positions for the Coys to take up on the tape beyond was also gone over by him. The tape on which the Battn was to form for the attack ran roughly from K 35 d 52 to Q 5 b 8 4.

At about 12 noon a heavy barrage from our artillery was opened onto enemy lines opposite us which lasted ¼ of an hour. Half an hour afterwards enemy artillery replied over ground held by us with heavy fire. This fire continued well on after dark. The C.O. interviewed C.O. Companies & explained orders & positions to them. The point for companies to move into position on the tape was given them.

Enemy artillery bombardment still continued to play onto our line running roughly K 35 d 1 7 to 5.6 to 8.0 to Q 5 b and on the area back towards White City. Men of various Companies who had got separated in the relief & lost in the dark were collected together & everything got in readiness in Battn to take up position for attack.

18 Nov 1916 - Wagon Road: At midnight the C.O. with Adjutent left Battalion HQ & layed a tape as they went in direction of Wagon Road. Coys followed & were marched into position along Wagon Road. By 4am all were in readiness. The C.O. had a last interview with C.O. Coys and at 4.30am, Coys moved onto the tape being in position by 5am. At zero time 6.10am the artillery barrage opened & the Regiment advanced in perfect order to attack. The spirit of the men being a fine sight to see in spite of the intense cold in which they had to lie & wait.

The Coys got well away & it is certain that the leading platoons & several others got well over Munick [sic] Trench. From this time it was difficult to ascertain the next position of every coy.

The Germans put over a heavy bombardment. He sent up several rockets which burst into 4 red stars. There was considerable hostile machine gun fire some which seemed to come from a gun well in rear in Frankfort Trench doing indirect fire onto the ground over which the attack was delivered.

Soon after daylight Capt Ross & 2Lt Greenhill were found with some Border men & K.O.Y.L.I. near communication trench running from Wagon Road at Q.5.b.5.7 to Munick trench at Q.6.a.3.9 being held up by a strong point at Q.6.a.3.9. Here sharp fighting occurred & bombing attacks were delivered.

In the trench at approx Q.6 a 15.15 a bombing post was established & a little behind two Lewis guns were placed in position commanding both flanks. After dark several men, this is all who were left on the Wagon Road side of Munick Trench, returned after having held shell holes opposite the German line & in his wire to a position along Wagon Road. During the day & up till 10pm stretcher bearers were continuously over the top & about attending & bringing in wounded men.

These that were left of the Battalion were re-organised & Wagon Road placed in a state of defence by them. From accounts it is believed that several men got right through Munick Trench. Wounded men crawling back were continually sniped by enemy.

19 Nov 1916 - Wagon Road: Battalion in same position. No action taken by enemies except for heavy shrapnel & H.E. barrage causing several casualties. During attack and after when men were holding onto ground taken, enemy adapted several cowardly devices such as some coming out unarmed with their hands up & when our men showed themselves to get enemy as prisoners, they (the enemy with hands up) would suddenly drop & our men were shot by consealed Germans further on.

A little after noon the Battalion was relieved by the 2/Inniskilling Fusiliers.