Herts at War - a community led project to commemorate the diverse experiences of Hertfordshire during the First World War.

Name

Alfred William [Cyril] Fitzjohn
1892

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

14/05/1915

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Private
10042
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

LE TOURET MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE
II. C. 10.
France

Headstone Inscription

None

UK & Other Memorials

Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock

Pre War

Alfred William Fitzjohn was born in 1892 in Baldock, Hertfordshire, the son of Peter and Harriet Fitzjohn (nee Turner) but was baptised as Alfred Cyril Fitzjohn on 23 April 1893 in Baldock.

His mother died in March 1900, aged 41, and is buried in Baldock. On the 1901 Census Alfred was living at Norton End, Baldock with his widowed father and sisters Mary, aged 13 and Emily aged 4. His father was working as a blacksmith. His age was given as 6 years, but he should have been 8/9 years old. By the 1911 Census, Alfred (then named as Alf Cyril) was living with his father and housekeeper Ellen Smith at Orchard Road, Baldock. His age was given as 16, but later changed to 18.

His father later lived at 66 Icknield Way, Baldock, Herts.

Wartime Service

He enlisted in Hertford and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving with the 2nd Battalion in France from 6/7 October 1914. He would have fought in the First Battle of Ypres in October and November 1914 followed by the Battle of Neuve Chappelle in March 1915.

Alfred died of wounds in France on 14 May 1915 and is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue. France.

Additional Information

His older brother, and sole legatee, Walter, received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £7 5s 6d.

His father received a pension of 5 shillings a week.

Younger brother of Peter Fitzjohn who served with the Royal Field Artillery and was killed on 5 October 1918.

Acknowledgments

Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson