Name
Alfred Fitch
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266708
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial,
St Peter’s Church Memorial, Bushey Heath,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Born in Bushey in 1897 (recorded Q1 1897 in Watford registration district), Alfred Joseph Fitch was the son of Alfred and Alice Louisa (née Mead) Fitch. They were married (recorded Watford registration district) in the fourth quarter of 1891. His father was a house painter and his mother a laundress.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family were living at School Lane, Bushey Heath and his father was recorded as a labourer.
By the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to Sparrows Hearne, Bushey and Alfred (Jnr.) was recorded as an errand boy. He was the third of ten children, the others being; Alice Maud (b Q1 1893); Minnie (b Q1 1895); Albert Frank (b Q4 1898); Mary (b Q4 1900); Edward (b Q3 1902); Sidney Arthur (b Q2 1904); Matthew (b Q4 1906); James Charles (b Q2 1909) and Ernest George (b Q2 1911).
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted in Hertford and served as Private 5150 in the Hertfordshire Regiment and as Private 266708 in the Bedfordshire Regiment. He served on the Western Front and was killed in action on 31 July 1917, aged 20.
He is remembered with honour at the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium and is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St Peter’s Church, Bushey Heath.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
