Name
Alfred George Cain
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/09/1916
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TF/5623
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
1/7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12D and 13B
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin Roll of Honour, Welwyn, Northaw Village Memorial, Not on the St Paul's Walden memorials
Pre War
Alfred George Cain was born in 1884 in St Pauls Walden, nr Welwyn, the son of Joseph and Sophia Cain, and the eldest of 5 children.
His father was a carpenter and in 1891 the family were living at Little Heath, North Mimms. On both the 1901 and 1911 Censuses he and his family were living at Northaw, Potter's Bar, Herts although during that time he changed occupation from a baker's assistant to a house painter.
He married Annie Maria Carter in the summer of 1911 and they had a daughter, Elsie, the following September. She was joined by Robert (1912), Alfred (1914) and Margaret (1916). They later lived at Broadwater, Stevenage, Herts.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted at Hornsey, Middlesex and joined the 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment which was a battalion of the Territorial Force and part of the Middlesex Brigade in the Home Counties division.
He was killed in action on 16 September 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, the third main phase of the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3, and pay owing of £3 4s 5d. She also received a pension of £1 8s 9d a week for herself and her four children.
His younger brother Rudolf A Cain served with Northants Regiment from December 1915 and was demobilised in 1919.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, Brian Lodge
