Name
Alfred Charles Cooley
1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/10/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18333
Norfolk Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT
I. G. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Wall Memorial, Potten End, Not on the Great Gaddesden Memorial
Pre War
Alfred Charles Cooley was born in 1883 in Great Gaddesden, the son of Charles and Emma Cooley.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Potten End, Berkhamsted where his father was working as a Farm Labourer, and remained there in 1901 when they were living next door to the Plough Inn. His father was then working as a Coal Merchant and Alfred was a Gardener Domestic.
He married Florence Minnie Wickens on 14 October 1905 at St Cuthbert church in Hampstead and they were living at 8 Potten End on the 1911 Census, at which time Alfred was working as a Labourer at the Chemical Works and they had a daughter, Dorothy in 1908. They later had another daughter Olive in 1913.
Florence's address on pension records was given as 2 Little Potters End, Berkhamsted.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford and served with the 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment in France from 2 September 1915.
He was killed in action and death was presumed on or since 21 October 1916 during the attack on Regina Trench. He is buried in the Regina Trench Cemetery.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £8 and pay owing of £1 5s 7d. She also received a pension of £1 2s 11d a week for herself and her two daughters. Brother to Clifford Cooley who was killed on 1 July 1916 and is buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, France.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk
