Military History

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 24 Oct 1917 and the war diary for that day is transcribed in full below.

“Clapham Junction” August 24^th 1917: All B Coy and D Coy and 2 platoons of A Coy I've been relieved and had marched to Zillebeke Bund while SOS signals went up from the front line on the enemy counterattacked. Dispositions of the remainder of the 8^th K.R.R.C at that time were as follows:- HQ and Communications Section in Clapham Junction tunnel under the Menin Road. Two platoons of A Coy in Jam Reserve trench just behind Sterling Castle. C Coy forming A defensive flank facing South from Inverness Copse to Sterling Castle.

The counterattack was a failure except on the left between Glencorse Wood and Inverness Copse where patrols of enemy were pushed forward. They did not get far but during the day we had to withdraw from Inverness Copse and held the The ? edge of it. The Battalion suffered badly from shell fire during the day and lost six officers killed and three officers wounded while amongst other ranks there were about 100 casualties. The casualties were mostly caused by shell fire and owing to the weakening of the ridge from this course the remainder of the battalion was recalled from Zillebeke Bund.

About one hour after they arrived the whole battalion was relieved and marched back to Zillebeke Bund. The attached total casualties were nine Officers and 230 Other Ranks. END