Name
Alfred Brown
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7945
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, All Saints' Church Memorial, Hockerill
Pre War
Alfred Brown was born in Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex, in 1879 to Samuel Brown and Emma (nee Brett). On the 1881 Census the family of parents, Ellen (born 1876), Alfred, and Elizabeth (born 1881) were living at Patmore Road, Hatfield Broad Oak.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Ellen Alfred, Elizabeth), Louisa (born 1883), Laura (born 1884), Henry (Harry, born 1887), Jane (born 1888) and Martha (born 1890) were living at Cross Street Green, Hatfield Broad Oak.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Alfred (an agricultural labourer), Elizabeth, Louisa, Laura, Henry, Jane, William (born 1892), Frederick (born 1894) were living in Sheering Street, Sheering, Essex.
By 1911 Census the family of parents, Alfred, Elizabeth, Jane, Martha and Frederick had moved to 11 Elm Grove, Bishop's Stortford. Alfred was working as a brewery lad, his mother, Elizabeth, Jane & Martha were working as a steam laundry and Frederick was a Brewery bottle washer.
Wartime Service
As no Service Record was found for Alfred his date of enlistment at Bedford in the Bedfordshire Regiment cannot be confirmed. His serial number of 7945 was issued in Feb 1904 (7947 issued on 5 Feb 1904). This would mean that by the 1911 Census he may have been on reserve. If so, he would be recalled and Alfred went to France with 1st Battalion on 15 Aug 1914 as part of 5 Division to fight in the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, la Bassee and 1st Ypres (1914).
In 1915 they took part in 2nd Ypres particularly the Fighting at Hill 60. In 1916 they took part in the Battle of the Somme, they were involved in the Attack on High Wood (20-25 Jul 1916) and Longueval (27-30 Jul 1916). During this latter action Alfred was reported killed in action on 27 Jul 1916, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
His mother Emily )also known as Emma) received a War Gratuity of £11 and arrears of £13 0s 2d.
Brother to William Thomas Brown who died on 5 May 1916 and whose body is buried in Kensal Green (All Souls') Cemetery, UK.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
