Name
Alfred Edwin Horsey
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1882
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BIRR CROSS ROADS CEMETERY
I. F. 18 (Coll.)
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS FROM FATHER & MOTHER
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross
Pre War
Alfred Edwin Horsey was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, in late 1896, the only son of Alfred Emos Horsey a, Baker’s Shopkeeper and Lizzie Horsey (nee Luck).
1901 Census records Alfred aged 4, living with his parents, at 192 High Street, Waltham Cross, Herts. The family had two live-in Servants, Kate Aldridge (15) a Domestic Servant and William Larman (16) a Journeyman Baker.
1911 Census, Alfred (14) and his parents are still living at 192 High Street. They have a live-in Servant Alfred Perry (18) a Baker.
In 1913 aged 16, Alfred emigrated to Australia, he sailed from the Port of London on 9th May 1913, aboard the S.S “Otranto” for Fremantle, Western Australia.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted at Blackboy Hills, Perth, WA, on 11th January 1915, posted to the 4th/16th Battalion, AIF, with the service number 1882.
“The Australian Imperial Force arrived at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, on the 25th April 1915”.
On completion of his training, Alfred was sent to Gallipoli (date not known). On the 8th August 1915, Alfred received a Gun Shot Wound to his left shoulder and arm, he was take to the Casualty Clearing Station and transferred to hospital at Mudros from there by ship (HMHS “Neuralia”) to Floriana Hospital, Malta, arriving late August 1915. On the 10th September 1915, he was transferred to England aboard the Hospital Ship (HMHS “Sootian”) arriving in England on the 18th September 1915 and admitted to the County of London Hospital. He was treated at various Hospitals in England. On his recovery he was posted to the Australian Rollestone Camp, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, from where he returned to France on 28th November 1916, leaving from Folkstone, aboard the S.S. “Princess Henrietta” for Etaples, the Australian Base Camp in France. From where he rejoined the 4th/16th Battalion, AIF in the field in April 1917, he was wounded in action on 24th September 1917 and died of his wounds two days later on the 26th.
He is buried in the CWGC Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, in Belgium.
Additional Information
His Headstone inscription “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS FROM FATHER & MOTHER” was requested by his father Alfred Horsey.
His service record is available at the Australian National Archive and on their database.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
