Military History

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 5 Dec 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. The 2nd/7th Battalion war diary Report on Operations for that day is transcribed below. A newspaper report at the time states that he was struck by a shell and died on a stretcher before reaching the Casualty Clearing Station.

Front Lines - 5th December 1917 - 8.30am: Enemy artillery opened fire which steadily increased and by:-

10am: A heavy barrage what is placed upon the battalion front. Between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM attacks were made-up on our front at the same points as on the 4th inst. They were pressed with vigour and the casualties in X Company were heavy. I therefore moved reinforcements from the Glosters which were at my disposal and Major T E Lefrey moved forward to clear up the situation. The enemy were driven back with loss.

Artillery support was called for and obtained but it was all short and the range had to be lengthened. The mornings bombardment of our trenches had been very severe and the trenches were practically flattened out.

2pm: By this time the situation was normal. I had received orders that the 10th Inniskillings, 36 Division would relieve the Battalion that night and that two companies were then moving up to reinforce. In consultation with Lt. Col Peacock of this battalion I arranged that one of his Coys would move forward and relieve X Coy which had almost all become casualties.

3pm: a heavy barrage was put on our line just as the Inniskillings  we're taking over from X Coy and the enemy attacked up the O.C. Front Line and Support Line trenches from the Sunken Road at the same time a frontal attack on the same parties of the front was delivered in three waves. The enemy was only stopped just short of the front line.

Major T.E. Lefrey, who had been sent forward to superintend the relief of the Bombing Posts by the Inniskillings, realised the critical state of the situation and organising a number of our survivors including 2/Lieut D.L.A Paine and Lieut W. Crofts and some of the Inniskillings, counter attacked over the open. This counter attack saved the line and the enemy were repulsed but Major Lefrey and Lieut Crofts were killed, the former whilst returning for reinforcements.

His action throughout the critical hour on this day was very gallant, his bravery was of a high order and his powers of organisation of the greatest value. He was a gallant and capable Officer. His death is a great loss. 2^nd Lieut Paine remained with the relieving Battalion and rendered good service reorganising the bombing posts etc until the situation was normal.

The bombardment appears to have been heaviest up on the W, Y and Z Coy trenches at R.10.e.15.95 and R.10.c.17.65 and The men appear to have withdrawn to the support line O.C.1 at R.9.b.8.05 And some too have entered dugouts, later manning X Coys trench.

The enemy attacked in waves up on the W & Y trenches and managed to work up the Sunken Road at R.10.d & a and then Deploy and attack the W Front. I cannot account for any determined resistance or counterattack by these Companies and one platoon actually remained in their trenches at about R.10.c.6.8 and were found there by the Coy Comdr this same evening. There is no doubt that the bombardment was particularly heavy and upon trenches already partially demolished and that the frontal and flank attack was strong, that cut L.C’s were out of action, bombs short, Companies contained few men and the men overtired. But I consider the trenches might have been retaken. The barrage put down was almost heavy enough to lead one to expect a general attack and there seems little doubt that it was the enemy's intention to breakthrough in some force.

5pm: the enemy was holding position of our trenches from R.10.a.8.75 to R10.a.15.65 and from R.10.a.1.05 to R.10.a.25.2. Details of W & Y Coys had been collected at Bn HQ and had been ordered to re-take their old line in the they were unsuccessful but remained to sever the attack for their recovery by the Inniskillings.