Name
Edward Thomas Alford
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/09/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TF/2707
Middlesex Regiment
1st/7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar, Not on the South Mimms memorials
Pre War
Edward Thomas Alford was born in 1891 in South Mimms to Frederick Alford, a night watchman , and Susan Sophia (nee Strange).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Ada May (born 1885), Charles Frederick (born 1889), Edward Thomas, Frank (born 1892) and William (born 1896) were living at Home Farm Cottages, Wrotham Park, South Mimms.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Ada May (an artificial teeth trimmer) Charles (scientific instrument maker), Edward (assurance clerk) and Frank (a process worker) were living at 3, Hatfield Road, South Mimms.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Edward. However, he enlisted as a Territorial Soldier, private 2707 in the 2nd/7th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), probably soon after the declaration of the Great War. He would have been embodied (subject to full time service overseas) in 1/7 Battalion and went to France to Join them in the field on 25 Jul 1915.
The 1/7 Battalion had been in France since Mar 1915 as part of 23 Brigade 8 Division. On 8 Feb 1916 the Battalion transferred to 167 Brigade 56 (1st London) Division. On the 1st Jul 1916 the division was in the Diversionary attack at Gommecourt and later in 1916 was involved in the battles of Ginchy (9 Sep 1916), Flers-Courcelette (15-22 Sep 1916) as part of the Battles of the Somme. It was during this latter Battle that Edward was reported killed in action on 16 Sep 1916, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of £7 10s was paid to his father. Brother Frank also served in the same Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment and was killed in action on 2 May 1917.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
