Photograph of Alfred in Tameside Local Studies and Archive Centre. Reference: MRP5/C/11

(L to R) 1914 Star with clasp '5th Aug.-22nd Nov. 1914'; British War Medal; Allied Victory Medal; General Service Medal 1918-62 with clasps 'Iraq', 'N. W. Persia'; Delhi Durbar 1911 Medal; Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Alfred was born between April and June 1889 in the Islington area of London. His father was called George and his mother was Elizabeth. He had 6 older siblings: Frank, Elizabeth, Nelly, Louisa, George and Rose; and at least one younger: Lilly. In 1891 the family lived at 7 Broad Yard in Islington, and George worked as a hairdresser.

Ten years later Alfred was living in the Workhouse School on Hornsey Road, Islington. We don't know why he had been admitted to this institution, or what had happened to the rest of his family. Alfred seems to have learned to play a musical instrument whilst he attended this school, although we don't know which one.

The Army recruited boys from the age of 14 to serve as drummers, buglers and trumpeters. This may have seemed like a good opportunity to Alfred, he joined the Manchester Regiment on the 3rd October 1902. He was given the service number 8021.

We don't know much about Alfred's early service. He was classed as a 'boy' until his 18th birthday. During this time he would have had music lessons and a more general education, as well as military training. He was kept under stricter supervision than adult soldiers.

After he turned 18 Alfred continued to serve as a musician in one of the Regiment's bands. By April 1911 he was a member of the 1st Battalion, based at Kamptee in India.

King George V was crowned in Britain on the 22nd June 1911. As Emperor of India he received his Indian subjects that December at the Delhi Durbar. The 1st Battalion took part in the Durbar itself on the 12th, and the spectacular military parade on the 14th. It also provided many guards of honour for dignitaries. As a bandsman Alfred was sent to Delhi during October and he will have been very busy during this time. He received 1 of the 100 medals allocated to the 1st Battalion, and 1 of the 5 given to the band.

After the Durbar was over Alfred and the 1st Battalion moved to Jullundur in the modern Indian Punjab. Alfred was promoted to Lance Corporal before the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914.

The 1st Battalion set sail for France on the 27th August, and arrived there one month later. As far as we can tell, Alfred spent the entire war with the 1st Battalion. They served in France until December 1915, seeing combat at Givenchy in December 1914, Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 and the 2nd Battle of Ypres in April. In December they sailed to Mesopotamia, now Iraq, to fight the Turks.

In September 1917 Alfred was serving as Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) in Number 1 Company. His job was to coordinate supplies for the Company. The Company Sergeant Major, who Alfred would have worked closely with, was Alfred Hughes. His medals are also in the Museum of the Manchester Regiment collection. By the end of the war in October 1918 Alfred had advanced into what was then Palestine with the 1st Battalion.

The 1st Battalion returned to the UK during 1919. Alfred married Flora McKechnie at All Saints Church in Wandsworth, London on the 31st July. Flora's sister Elsie was married to Issy Smith, a member of the 1st Battalion who had been awarded the Victoria Cross in 1915. Issy served as witness at Alfred's wedding.

On the 13th October the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Manchester Regiment found themselves in Aldershot together. Alfred transferred to the 2nd Battalion at some point during this period. When they left the UK for Mesopotamia in February 1920 Alfred went with them.

Between April and July the Battalion was based in Tikrit. Most of the soldiers in Iraq were inexperienced and were not fully trained on all the Battalion's weaponry. This made men like Alfred invaluable. Towards the end of May C Company and the Battalion band were detached and sent to the hill station of Karind. This was a small village in what was then called Persia and is now Iran. Most of the soldiers returned to the Battalion after around 6 weeks, but 50 -60 men stayed there until October. We don't know which group Alfred belonged to. This service qualified him for the 'North West Persia' clasp.

Alfred and the 2nd Battalion left Mesopotamia on Boxing Day 1920 and moved to Kamptee in India. He received a new service number at around this time: 3512650.

The 2nd Battalion was now back in its peacetime routine. An important element of this was soldiers' education. Alfred passed an examination for his 1st Class Certificate of Education on the 21st June 1921. He had moved to A Company and was promoted to Acting Company Sergeant Major on the 30th December. Flora became an Assistant Schoolmistress to the Battalion's children on the 17th November.

Most soldiers served a maximum of 21 years in the Army. This point was rapidly approaching for Alfred, but in April 1923 he was allowed to continue his service until he had served 21 years from his 18th birthday.

The 2nd Battalion celebrated its centenary on the 25th March 1924, in Jubbulpore, now Jabalpur. Alfred was present for the week of celebrations, which included a dinner held in the Officer's Mess that was attended by the Warrant Officers and Colour Sergeants. It was 'the only occasion on record' when this had happened. There was also 3 days holiday for the entire Battalion.

Alfred moved with the 2nd Battalion to Burma in 1925. He remained Company Sergeant Major of A Company until his time in the Army expired in late 1927. At this time the Company was serving away from the rest of the Battalion, in Mandalay. Alfred would be missed by his comrades; he was a 'good member of the mess' and 'imperturbable, despite remarks about his waist-line'. He was discharged on the 8th April 1928 in Preston, Lancashire.

We don't know what Alfred did when he returned to civilian life in the UK. He joined the Old Comrade's Association (OCA) soon after he left the Army, and his address then was Dame Alice Owen's Girls School in Islington (in 2012 this school is based in Potter's Bar, Hertfordshire). We don't know whether he or Flora was employed there.

Alfred attended many Reunions and other events during the 1930's. He carried the OCA banner at King George VI's Royal Review of Ex-Servicemen in Hyde Park on the 27th June 1937. The next year he joined the 2nd Battalion in Aldershot for their Annual Sports day on the 4th June.

At some point Alfred and Flora moved to 18 Lewis Road in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Alfred died on the 28th May 1941. He was 52 years old. His medals were presented to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment in 1952.

By 1950 Flora had moved to 'Tregotha', 24 Albert Road in Horley, Surrey. She was a welcome guest at many reunions throughout the 1950's and early 1960's despite her increasing age and arthritis in her leg. Another event she attended was the 100th anniversary of the Victoria Cross on the 26th June 1956. Flora attended this parade at Hyde Park in London with Elsie, Issy Smith's widow, and their other sister. She died between January and March 1969, aged 82. We don't believe she and Alfred had any children.