Name
Alfred William Eaton Sapsford
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/10/1914
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14033
Grenadier Guards
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 9 and 11.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
High Wych Memorial, Not on the Sawbridgeworth memorials
Pre War
Alfred William, known as Will, was born in Great Hallingbury in 1890, the son of Alfred and Louisa Sapsford. His father was an agricultural worker. The Sapsfords later moved to Sweet Briars Cottages, High Wych.
Alfred (Will) was a professional soldier. He enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards in 1908.
Will was a professional soldier having already joined the Grenadier Guards in 1908. By 1914 he was a corporal in the 2nd Battalion. Will’s younger brother was Arthur, later foreman at Rivers Nurseries. Many years later Arthur told his son John how, walking down the Strand in London one day in July 1914, he ran into Will. It was the last any of the family saw of him.
Wartime Service
Immediately prior to the Great War, the Battalion was based at Chelsea Barracks in London. The Grenadiers were mobilised and sent to France, amongst the first units to join the expeditionary force, entering France on the 13th August 1914.
Will was killed in action near Ypres on 27th October 1914. Of the 1025 officers and men of the 2nd battalion sent to France 959 were casualties by the end of November. Will’s body is lost and he is commemorated on Menin Gate.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Theo van de Bilt, Douglas Coe
