South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private L/14977 Alfred Thomas WALDEN - A Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers


Killed in Action Sunday 25th April 1915 aged 25

Alfred Walden


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Gallipoli 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Helles Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
25 Apr 1915 ~ Stoneleigh  |  Westwood Heath
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Mobilised Military Service Information
Landing at Anzac Cove September 1914 at Warwick Enlisted 11 Dec 1905 at Warwick
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
Anzac Cove, Turkey Pte 746 Royal Warwickshire  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Alfred is listed as landing in Anzac Cove and being killed in action on 25 Apr 1915. The battalion was diary is transcribed below.
 

3AM. Arrived off Gallipoli at about 3:00 AM W&X Coys and machine guns disembarked from HMS Implacable onto cutters (tows of 4) at 4 am. General bombardment by the battleships took place.

5.15AM.  The Implacable steamed in towards ex beach with two tows on either side and the fleet sweepers containing Y&Z companies on the port side. The implacable covered our landing with every available gun and accept for distant rifle fire there was no opposition to our landing and we suffered no casualties. W&X Coys scaled the Cliff and took the top without any immediate opposition, meanwhile X&Z Coys were landed with ammunition and tools.

The two former Coys were sent out right and left to attack Hill 114 and enemies trenches on the left. They were met by heavy fire and suffered many casualties, Z Coy on arrival supported W Coy and took Hill 114 at point of Bayonet by 11am. With 20 prisoners X Coy was ordered from the top of the Cliff to our front and left for about 300 yards. Y Coy supported them, a little opposition was encountered but the any enemy retired about 9am.

On the left the enemies first line of trenches was occupied, but at the second line they were met by considerable opposition and compelled unavoidably to withdraw before a superior force and suffered severely. The Borders Regiment which had just landed at X beach eventually came to their assistance and for the rest of the day they were attached to the Border Regiment and eventually entrenched themselves for the night South of Ridge 200.

W&Z Coys after taking Hill 114 reformed and advanced Northeast and East and met with opposition on the reverse slope of the hill from the enemy who were entrenched there. They were dislodged by 2 pm and their position was entrenched and held for the night. The enemy's next position was 700 yards to their front.

Night 25-26: During the night of the 25-26 our line was attacked and the enemy appeared at one time to about 150 yards from our trenches in considerable force. Heavy fire was maintained throughout the night but at dawn the enemy had withdrawn to their old line. END


 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1890 at Westwood 1 May 1890 at Westwood
   
Parents Names Abode
William (deceased) and Sarah Walden Stoneleigh
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History                                        
1890 - The Hollies, Burton Green Road, Stoneleigh 1905 - Billard Ball Maker
1891 - The Hollies, Burton Green Road, Stoneleigh 1911 - Soldier with 1st BnRoyal Warwickshire
1901 - The Hollies, Burton Green Road, Stoneleigh  
1905 - Stoneleigh Village  
1911 - Bombay Barracks, India  
1916 - 13 Hill Street, Rugby (mother)  
   
  • On Alfred's service record he gave his age as 17 yrs and 11 months on 11 Dec 1905 however, as can be seen above in his birth record he was only 15½ . He originally enlisted as Thomas Walden by using his middle name.
  • He was known by his middle name of Thomas or Tom
  • Stoneleigh History Society webpage
  • Photo courtesty of Stoneleigh History Society