Military History

Alfred is listed as dying of wounds on 15 May 1918 and he was buried at Lapugnoy Cemetery. At that time Lapugnoy was being used by fighting units to bury their dead and so it is likely he died on the same day he was wounded. 

The 1st Battalion's Detailed Statement of Casualties shows that on the 13th May 2 Other Ranks were killed, on the 14th May there were no casualties and on the 15th May 2 Other Ranks were killed and 5 more were wounded.CWGC records show that 1 of the 2 OR killed on the 13th was buried at nearby Mont-Bernanchon Cemetery and the 2 OR killed on the 15th were again buried at Mont-Bernanchon Cemetery which is close to the trenches as Le Cauroy with Lapugnoy being further south.

The 1st Battalion war diary for the period 13th to 15th May is transcribed below.

Trenches near Le Cauroy - May 13th 1918: Dull day, cold, windy and wet. At about 2am Hostile artillery shells Canal Bank & SE end of Pacaut Wood with 5.9’s and 4.25”, about 200 shells altogether. From 9am till 12.30pm enemy shells area round Bellerive & Lannoy very heavily with 5.9’s. G.O.C. 4^th Division visits Battalion HQ during the morning. Hostile artillery continues fairly active on back areas during afternoon. Fairly quiet night. 2^nd Lieut FN Martin rejoins from Hospital.

Trenches near Le Cauroy - May 14th 1918: Fine sunny day. Enemy has about 10 Observation Balloons up during the day. Enemy artillery is less than normal. The C.O. and Coy Officers of the 1^st Rifle Brigade come up to Battalion HQ during the day to look round the line prior to taking over. Very quiet day indeed. Our artillery carry out harassing fire at night especially from 12.30pm till about 2am as a hostile relief is believed to be taking place. Enemy retaliation fairly heavily on area round wood & both banks of Canal. C Coy have a Lewis Gun knocked out. Remained of night quiet. 2^nd Lieut F.J. Marks to England sick.

Trenches near Le Cauroy - May 15th 1918: Fine sunny day. Enemy has about 12 Observation Balloons up during the morning. Very quiet in the front areas during most of the day, the enemy being confined chiefly to shelling batteries in the afternoon. We are relieved at night by the 1st Rifle Brigade & Coys marched back to billets at Busnettes arriving there about 1am. Relief complete about 11.25pm. No casualties coming out. 2nd Lieut's Gleave, Adams and Torrie K.S.L.I join the Battalion.