Name
Alfred Cecil Atkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/04/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
26991
Somerset Light Infantry
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
O. VIII. F. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Stanstead Abbotts Village Memorial,
Memorial Plaque in St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbotts,
Hertford Grammar Memorial - now Richard Hale School, Hertford,
Not on the Ware memorials,
Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Born on 17 May 1897 in Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire son of Sidney Herbert and Alice Mary (Sheldon) Atkins. He lived in High Street, Stanstead Abbotts in 1901 and 1911 and was educated at Hertford Grammar School.
His father was a chemist. Alfred attended Hertford Grammar School from 1907-1916, having previously attended Stanstead Abbotts Elementary School. He left school to enlist in the army.
Wartime Service
Formerly 6720 in the Hertfordshire Regiment
Additional Information
Brothers Sidney, Arthur and Leonard also served and returned safely.
His mother transcribed all his letters home into a notebook which came to light in 1997 and many are now available on the internet. There is a commemorative plaque to Alfred in St Andrews Church Stanstead Abbotts.
Alfred is also commemorated on the family headstone in Stanstead Abbots (St. James) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO ALFRED CECIL, THEIR BELOVED 3RD SON WHEN DIED APRIL 9TH 1917, IN THE BATTLE OF ARRAS.
DIED IN HOSPITAL AT ROUEN APRIL 13TH 1917, AGED 19
INTERRED AT SAINT SEVER CEMETERY. ROUEN.
IN BOURBEN(?) DUTY AND SERVICE
ALSO ALFRED CECIL, THEIR BELOVED 3RD SON WHEN DIED APRIL 9TH 1917, IN THE BATTLE OF ARRAS.
DIED IN HOSPITAL AT ROUEN APRIL 13TH 1917, AGED 19.
INTERRED AT SAINT SEVER CEMETERY. ROUEN.
DIED IN HOSPITAL AT ROUEN APRIL 13TH 1917, AGED 19
INTERRED AT SAINT SEVER CEMETERY. ROUEN.
IN BOURBEN(?) DUTY AND SERVICE
ALSO ALFRED CECIL, THEIR BELOVED 3RD SON WHEN DIED APRIL 9TH 1917, IN THE BATTLE OF ARRAS.
DIED IN HOSPITAL AT ROUEN APRIL 13TH 1917, AGED 19.
INTERRED AT SAINT SEVER CEMETERY. ROUEN.
IN BOURBEN(?) DUTY AND SERVICE
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Terry Collins, www.richardhale.herts.sch.uk, Jonty Wild
