Name
Alfred Herbert Burtt
3 February 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/08/1916
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
C/1415
King's Royal Rifle Corps
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
IX. C. 17A.
France
Headstone Inscription
FOR GOD RIGHT AND LIBERTY
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End,
Individual plaque, St Mary's Church Organ, Apsley End,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley
Pre War
Alfred Herbert Burtt was born on 3 February 1886 in Norwich, Norfolk, the son and eldest child of Alfred and Maria (Annie) Burtt, who also had two daughters, Emily and Daisy.
By the 1891 Census the family had moved to Islington and were living at 150 Hornsey Road where his father was working as a Commission Agent (otherwise known as a Commercial Traveller). Alfred attended Harvest Road School, Islington from 20 April 1891.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in Hendon Road, Islington and his father was a Commerical Clerk in Hays Wharf, Southwark and Alfred was working as a Grocer's Boy. The following year he started work for John Dickinson & Co, possibly at their office at Old Bailey, London, but later at their factory in Apsley, near Hemel Hempstead.
By the 1911 Census, he had moved from the family home and was living as a boarder at Holly Bank, Apsley End, and working as an Order Clerk at a Stationery Manufacturer (John Dickinson & Co). He married Gertrude Smith in 1912 at St Mary's Church, Apsley.
He was a member of the Hemel Hempstead Harriers and Football Club, Apsley Church Choir and was Scoutmaster for the Apsley Troop. He ran a Bible Class, wsa a member of the Church Choir and occasionally read the lessons in Church.
On enlistment he was working at Apsley Mills in the Clerical Department and lived at 4 Nash Mills, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Holborn, Middlesex in September 1915 and served with the 16th Battalion (Church Lads Brigade), King's Royal Rifle Corps.
After basic training, Henry was sent to France in early 1916 and took part in the 'Big Push' at the Battle of the Somme in July. The 16th Battalion was ordered to attack High Wood near Delville Wood on 15 July. They had to attack uphill and on open ground and were mown down by German fire. Despite many attempts it became clear the attack was a failure and was called "a horrible, terrible massacre" with more than 120 men killed and many more wounded. Henry was one of those wounded, being shot in the thigh which also detonated five of his own cartridges. He was taken to the 20th General Hospital at Camiers near Boulogne-sur-Mer. His wife Gertrude was informed of his being wounded and was able to go to France to see him in hospital. She arrived on 2 August and was at his bedside every day until he died from his wounds on 6 August 1916, aged 30.
According to local newspaper reports at the time, his wife was with him when he died and they both received Holy Communion in the evening at about 9.00 pm from an Army Chaplain and Henry passed away soon afterwards. He is buried nearby in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs G Burtt, 4 Nash Mills, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, ordered his headstone inscription: "FOR GOD RIGHT AND LIBERTY".
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and received a pension of 10 shillings a week. She was granted probate in London on 14 April 1917 with effects of £100.
The organ inside St Mary's Church, Apsley bears the inscription: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ALFRED HERBERT BURTT, DIED OF WOUNDS AT ETAPLES AUGUST 6TH 1916, FOR 7 YEARS A FAITHFUL CHORISTER AND EARNEST CHURCH WORKER
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelheroes.com., www.hemelatwar.org.
