Name
Alfred Thomas Beddall
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/08/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23489
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL
XX. D. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Plaque, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Alfred Thomas Beddall was born in Berkhamsted, Herts in 1890, the son of Jesse and Louisa Bedall and was baptised on 1 July 1891 in Great Berkhamsted. He was one of thirteen children, although five had died by 1911.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Castle Street, Berkhamsted where his father was a marine store dealer and remained there in 1901 but had moved to 18 Chapel Street, Berkhamsted in 1911 at which time Alfred was working as a general labourer. He gave his occupation as Clerk on enlistment when he enlisted in n Berkhamsted on 3 November 1910 and joined the Royal Field Artillery. He undertook training as a driver in Lydd, Thetford and Salisbury Plain in 1911 and 1912 but was discharged at his own request in early 1914 (date unclear). He then joined the Hertfordshire Regiment (Territorial).
Wartime Service
When war broke out he re-enlisted on 9 December 1915 and served with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He went to France on 1 July 1916, joining the 1st Battalion in the field on 11 August 1916.
He was initially missing, presumed killed in action on 18 August 1916 but after the war his body was found, exhumed and reburied in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 0s 6d. She also received a pension of 4 shillings a week, later increased to five shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jo Bayley
