Name
Alfred Edwin Messer
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/11/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
S/3260
Rifle Brigade
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone, He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the missing in France
UK & Other Memorials
Oxhey War Memorial, St Matthews Church Memorial, Oxhey, St Johns Church, Berwick St John, Wiltshire, War Memorial.
Pre War
Alfred Edwin Messer was born in 1893, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, son of Robert Messer (1848 – 1931) and his second wife Jemima Jane Messer (1862 – 1918) (nee Ferret).
1901 Census records Alfred aged 8, living with his parents, half-brothers, Herbert 16, and Robert 14, sister Gertrude 6, and brother John 2, in Rushmore, Berwick St John, Wiltshire.
1911 Census has Alfred aged 18, working as a Domestic Gardener, living at home with his parents, brother John 13, and sister Olive 8, at 12, Adumdell Cottages, Rushmore, Berwick St John, Wiltshire.
It is not known what connection Alfred had to Oxhey, Herts.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted in Nottingham, posted to the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own) with the service number S/3260. Alfred landed at Boulogne, France on 21st/22nd July 1915, with the 10th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, (The Prince Consorts Own), as part of the 59th Brigade, 20th Division. Seeing service on the Western Front.
Alfred was killed in action on 21st November 1917 possible at the Battle of Cambrai (20th November 1917 to 7th December 1917). He has no known Grave and is Commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £14-5s-3d, Pay Owing and £14-10s-0d, War Gratuity which went to his father Robert. Alfred is possibly the A E Messer Commemorated on St Mathews Church Memorial and the Oxhey, Herts War Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
