Name
Alfred Macdonald Andrews
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/06/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Acting Bombardier
155276
Royal Field Artillery
B Bty. 72nd Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM)
Sp.Mem.B.10
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Mill End, Nr Rickmansworth
Pre War
Alfred was baptised 21st of September 1879 in Waltham Abbey, Essex, the son of William and Mary MacDonald (nee Calder) Andrews. His father was a Master Millerand the family moved around being in Waltham Abbey in 1881, Attleborough, Norfolk in 1891 and Church Street, Rickmansworth in 1901. In that later year Alfred was still living with his parents, age 25 and described as a General Painter. In 1910 Alfred married Jessie M Tillyer (nee Carruthers) the widow of the late William Tillyer who died earlier that year. In 1911 they were living in Uxbridge Road, Mill End, with Jessie’s two children from her first marriage. Alfred was now described as a House Painter and Jessie as a Laundress.
Their own two children Stanley F and Alfred G were born in 1912 and 1914. After Alfred’s death Jessie received £9.14s.4d from the army being the money due to him. Later she moved to Bromley, close to her parents and died there in 1918. In 1919 Alfred’s War Gratuity was paid to “Guardian Doris Davenport”. She was Jessie’s daughter from her first marriage, now married to George Davenport, and presumably held the money for the benefit of the two Andrews children.
Recorded as enlisting in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Alfred served in B Battery LXX11 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery which moved to France in July 1915 under the command of 15th (Scottish) Division.
The Brigade saw action that year at the Battle of Loos between 25th of September and the 8th of October, the first time the British used poison gas. 1916 saw the Brigade in action during the German gas attack near Hulloch from the 27th to 29th of April, the defence of the Kink position on 11th May, and the Somme battles of Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette and Le Transloy. On 20th January 1917 LXX11 Brigade left 15th Division becoming 72nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
It is not known where Alfred died but possibly during the Battle of Messines which took place in West Flanders between the 7th and 14th of June 1917.
Acknowledgments
Mike Collins
