Name
Alfred Edward Lines
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/04/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
25459
Wiltshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NEUVILLE-VITASSE ROAD CEMETERY
C. 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Alfred was born in 1895 in Hitchin and christened on 9 June 1895 at Holy Savior Church, Hitchin. His parents were George and Helen Elizabeth Lines.
In 1901 the family were living at The George Inn PH, 33 Bucklersbury, Hitchin, and George the publican. Present were both parents: George (44) and Helen (37). Their children were: George Arthur (9), Florence Elizabeth (8), Jessie Hilda (7), Alfred Edward (5), Joseph Victor (3) and Helen Dorothy (1). Also present were a nephew Henry Lines (21) and sister-in-law Jessie Augusta Coles (30).
In 1911 the family were still at The George Inn, and George still the publican living at . Present were both parents, x now working as a . The census recorded they had been married for 21 years with 8 children of whom 2 had died. Of the children listed above George was absent and Alfred, now 15, was an assistant clothier’s apprentice. New siblings were Sidney Hubert (8) and Doris Primrose (5). Also present was sister-in-law Florence Alexander Cole (44).
Alfred married Hilda Watson, and the marriage took place just after Christmas 1916. Hilda was the daughter of Mr Ralph Watson of Hitchin Hill and they had married in Hitchin, just after Christmas 1916.
Alfred served an apprenticeship with Mr Ernest Leete the outfitter of Bucklersbury in Hitchin, but left Hitchin in 1915 to work in London. It was reported that he went to Aldershot to manage a YMCA hut before enlisting himself.
Officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts and that was recorded as his home address when he enlisted in Aldershot, Hants.
Wartime Service
Alfred was given the Regimental Number 22745 in the Somerset Light Infantry. Later he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment and was given Regimental Number 25459. This Battalion was part of the 21st Brigade in the 30th Division of VII Corps in the 3rd Army. He had only been in France two months when he died. It is not known whether his death was from action, accident or from illness but the probability is that he died of wounds.
The date of his death coincides with the opening day (Easter Monday) of the First Battle of the Scarpe when, in the afternoon, the 2nd Wiltshires joined in an attack on the Hindenburg Line two miles south of Neuville Vitasse about three miles south west of Arras.
According to the Battalion War Diary, it is most probable that he was killed either at 1.30 am when a party of 100 Other Ranks attacked the mill near the Henin-Neuville Vitasse Road in which one third became casualties and they were driven off, or during the 5.30 am attack by the rest of the Battalion on the Hindenburg Line between Neuville Vitasse and St. Martin sur Cojeul. The objective was to cross two sunken roads and to capture about 2,000 yards. The area was heavily defended, and they were driven back. The casualties numbered 14 Officers and 328 Other Ranks which meant that nearly half the Battalion became casualties in one day.
Additional Information
After his death £1 9s 10d was authorised to go to his widow, Hilda Lines on 4 July 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £4 was authorised to be paid to her on 15 November 1919.
His pension cards record x, his widow/father/mother, as his next of kin/dependant, living at The Cottage, Windmill Hill, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 13s 9d a week from 29 October 1917.
He had a brother Joseph who served in the Royal Engineers.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
