Name
Alfred Ludford
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/04/1915
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16450
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM)
I. P. 19.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Born in Hitchin, residing and enlisting there, His home was at 15, Barnard's Yard, Queen St. Hitchin and he was the husband of Elizabeth Ludford. His father was George Ludford. Another address given for him was 9 Gascoigne’s Yard, Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Alfred volunteered in August 1914 and was sent to France in 1915 to join the 1st Battalion of the Bedfords with the Regimental Number 16450.
The Germans were making desperate attempts to retake Hill 60. Shelling was intense so that the trenches had collapsed and the fighting went on in groups of shell-holes. Bombs and ammunition became exhausted and still the enemy shelled and machine-gunned. The Devonshires came up to relieve the Bedfords and the remnants of the Battalion marched back to Vlamertinge. Out of 630 men only 230 were left. Honours and praise were lavished on other units but the Bedfords, with the lion's share of the fighting and double the casualties, were ignored though it was an epic fight and at least they were congratulated by Sir John French (Commander-in-Chief) on their good work on Hill 60. Alfred was killed in action on Hill 60.
He was buried in Plot I, Row P, Grave 19 in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground in Belgium.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
