Name
Alfred Heath
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/06/1918
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Chaplain 4th Class
Army Chaplains' Department
4th Class
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TOUTENCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. A. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
EXCEPT A CORN OF WHEAT FALL INTO THE GROUND AND DIE IT ABIDETH ALONE JOHN 12.24.
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Cheshunt
Pre War
Alfred Heath was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, in 1879, son of Daniel Heath an Accountant and Agnes Amelia Heath (nee Thorn). One of eight children.
His parents were married at St. Pauls Church, Hampstead, Middx, on the 13th February 1866.
1881 Census records Alfred aged 1, living with his parents, sisters Agnes (14), Jane (12), Edith (3) and brother Walter (6) at, 4 Cornwall Cottages, Edmonton, Middx. Brother Frederick was born in 1883, in Edmonton.
In 1891 the family are recorded as living in Queens Road, Edmonton. By 1901 his father Daniel had retired, the family are still living in Queens Road, Edmonton, Alfred (21) is employed as a Clerk.
His father Daniel died in 1908 aged 72.
It is not known when Alfred took Holy Orders but the 1911 Census records Alfred aged 31, a Clergyman in the Established Church and Boarding with Mr. F. T. Little at 89 High Street, Ponders End, Middlesex.
Wartime Service
The Reverend Alfred Heath enlisted in the Royal Army Chaplains Department he was attached to the 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding Regiment).
He was Killed in Action on the 30th June 1918, aged 39. he is buried in the CWGC Toutencourt Communal Cemetery, in France.
Additional Information
His Headstone inscription “EXCEPT A CORN OF WHEAT FALL INTO THE GROUND AND DIE IT ABIDETH ALONE JOHN 12.24“ was requested by his mother Mrs A. A. Heath, of 10 Mount Pleasant, Turners Hill, Cheshunt, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
