Name
Alfred Henry Else
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
220678
Princess Charlotte of Wales, Royal Berkshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT
III. E. 27.
France
Headstone Inscription
HAVE MERCY UPON HIM LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON HIM
UK & Other Memorials
Leavesden Asylum/Hospital War Memorial, Leavesden, Not on the Abbots Langley memorials
Biography
Alfred Henry was born in 1888 (baptised 6 May 1888) in Newchurch, Romney Marsh, Kent to Thomas Else, a farmer, and Caroline (nee Paine). On the 1891 Census Alfred (the eldest son) and brother Thomas W were living with their parents at Street Fam, Newchurch, Romney Marsh. On the 1901 Census Alfred was working as a Houseboy and the family had increased with 3 more brothers and 2 sisters, all living at Blue Bell, Ham Street, Warehorne, Ashford. Thomas Else was a farmer, and as he moved to different farms in various parts of Kent in the following years, the size of the family grew. By the time of the 1911 Census there were five sons and two daughters, but by then Alfred had moved away. It is not known when Alfred moved to Abbots Langley, but he is recorded as an Ayslum Attendant on the 1911 Census. He enlisted on 10th September 1914 as Private 1989 in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, he was living at Tanners Hill in the village. Although he gave occupation as farmer, Alfred was listed in the Leavesden Asylum Roll of Honour, which appeared in the 17th October 1914 edition of the Hertfordshire Advertiser, and the Leavesden Parish Records indicated that he was employed as an Attendant at the Asylum. In November 1914 the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine recorded him serving with the Herts Yeomanry, and throughout the War although his name was regularly recorded each month in the Roll of Honour, his unit was not.
Alfred travelled to Barnham Cross Camp at Thetford for his Medical Examination of 7th October 1914, and embarked for Egypt on 7th June 1915. On 15th December 1915 he was appointed Acting Paid Lance Corporal, and a year later on 8th December 1916 was appointed Acting Corporal.
At this point there was a gap in his Service Record, and it was not until 27th March 1918 that the next entry occurred and recorded that he embarked for France, arriving the next day. On arrival in France Alfred was transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment and posted to the 1st Battalion, as Corporal 220678, which he joined on 6th April 1918.
His Service Record showed that on 1st July 1918 Alfred died of wounds received in action, whilst being treated at 29 Casualty Clearing Station, which was based at Gezaincourt. The cause of death was Bronchio-Pneumonia. No further details about the circumstances of his death have been identified, and it is not known whether Alfred was involved in front line action or received his wounds elsewhere. At the time of death the Soldiers Died in the Great War archive indicated that although serving with the 1st Berkshires, he was attached to the Infantry Brigade HQ.
Alfred died on the same day as another Abbots Langley man, Albert Herring, also died from his wounds in Genoa, Italy.
Alfred Else was buried at Bagneux Cemetery, Gezaincourt. He was associated with Abbots Langley in the same way as many of those who came to the village to work at the Asylum, enlisted and served throughout the Great War. Many of those, with similar associations with the Village were recorded on the Abbots Langley War Memorial. Alfred Else was not.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £19 and arrears of £11 12s 6d was paid to his father. Brother Thomas William served in RASC from 15 Feb 1918 in France and was demobilised 9 Oct 1919. Brother Albert Charles enlisted as a Territorial RASC and was embodied as Driver T4/23925, went France 2 Jul 1918 to 3 Feb 1919 being demobilised on 5 Mar 1919.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
