Name
Alfred William King
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/05/1918
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18814
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GODEZONNE FARM CEMETERY
I. D. 3.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NEVER FORGOTTEN PEACE PERFECT PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, Folly Methodist Chapel Window, Wheathampstead, St. Peter's Church Memorial, Gustard Wood
Pre War
Alfred William King was born in Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, in 1887, the son of Alfred King, a carpenter and Lucy (nee Munt). Alfred was baptised on 29 May 1887, in the Parish Church, Wheathampstead, Herts. The family consisted of parents and ten children, although two had died in infancy.
The 1891 Census records Alfred aged 4, living with his parents, brother Frederick (2) and sister Lucy (10 months) in, Gustard Wood, Herts.
By the 1901 Census Alfred aged 13, had left school and was working as a Nurseries Errand Boy, living with his parents, Frederick, Lucy and May Ellen (born 1897) in the Folly, Wheathampstead, Herts.
1911 Census records Alfred, working as a Nurseryman, living with his parents, May Ellen, Albert Edward (born 1903), Ernest Charles (born 1905), Sydney George (born 1908) and Bertram (born 1910) in Gustard Wood , Wheathampstead.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted at Bedford, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 18814. No Service Records were found for Alfred. On completion of his training, he served on the Western Front in the 2nd Battalion.
In 1918 Alfred’s Battalion were involved in Battles of the German Spring Offensive and had been present at the battles St Quentin and Rosieres in Mar 1918. They deployed in Apr 1918 to the Ypres Sector and were in positions at Dickebusch, Ypres and were in the front line near Vierstraat for the period 5-9 May 1918. On the 5 – 7 May they were subjected to hostile artillery fire. On 8 May 1918, at 3.0 a.m. enemy put down a barrage with gas shells on the Reserve position which drifted back on Front Line. At 4.10 a.m. a very heavy barrage was put down on Front Line with Trench Mortars, 5.9's which lasted 4 hours. About 7.30 a.m. enemy Infantry attacked using Flammenwerfer (Flame Throwers) forcing the two Front Companies to fall back to our Support Line which eventually became the Front Line. No.1 Coy formed to form a defensive flank to stop the enemy from penetrating our Support Line. At 7.0 p.m. a Counter-attack was launched by the French and Bedfords to try and re-establish our original Front Line, which failed. The enemy's artillery kept up an intense bombardment right through the day causing very heavy casualties to the Battalion. Total Casualties were 7 Officers 170 Other Ranks, Alfred was one of the casualties. Alfred’s record in ‘Soldiers who died in the Great War’ quotes his death as 8 May 1915 but this relates to Alfred William King 13034 2nd Beds, died 23 Sep 1915 and buried in Choques Cemetery.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs. L. King, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "NEVER FORGOTTEN PEACE PERFECT PEACE".
His mother received a dependents pension of 6/- a week from 17 Dec 1918. His effects of £8-18s-8d and Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £15, went to his father Alfred. Brother Frederick had joined 4th Bedfords, East Anglian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in 1911 and was embodied on 5 Aug 1914. He went to France on 16 Nov 1915 was posted to Middle East Feb 1916 and returned to UK on 28 Jun 1916 as he was time expired as a Territorial. He joined Royal Flying Corps on the same day and was demobilised on 26 Jul 1919.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
