Name
Frank Alford
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/05/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TF/200170
Middlesex Regiment
1st/7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Territorial Force War, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
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
Frank Alford was born in 1896 in South Mimms to Frederick Alford , a nightwatchman, and Susan Sophia (nee Strange).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Ada May (born 1885), Charles Frederick (born 1889), Edward Thomas (born 1891) Frank 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
Frank enlisted on 11 Mar 1913 as a Territorial Soldier, private 1763 in te 1st/7th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment) . He was embodied (subject to full time service overseas) on 5 Aug 1914.
Frank was posted to 3rd / 7th on 27 Feb 1915 and back to 1/7th on 12 Aug 1915. The 1/7 Battalion had been in France since Mar 1915 as part of 23 Bde 8 Division. Frank joined them in field in France. 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, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Transloy as part of the Battles of the Somme. Frank acquired the service number 200170 in the Territorial renumbering.
In 1917 the battalion took part in the Arras Offensive. It was during this period prior to the opening of Battle of the Scarpe (9-14 May) that Frank was reported killed in action on 2 May 1917, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of 12 190s and arrears of £8 14s 6d was paid to his father. Brother Edward Thomas Alford served in the Same Batalion of the Middlesex Regiment and was killed in action on 16 Sep 1916.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
