Name
Alfred James Sapsed
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/04/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
12069
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Holy Saviour Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin, St Faith’s Church Memorial, Walsworth, Not on the Barkway memorials
Pre War
Alfred was born in 1894 in Barkway, nr Royston, Herts, the son of James and Mary Sapsed.
In 1901 the family were living in one of the Eagle Tavern Cottages, Barkway. Present were both parents: James (34) and Mary (36), with James working as a horsekeeper on farm. Their children were: George S (11), Alice M (9), Alfred James (6), Arthur W (3) and Charles (1).
There is an Alfred Sapsed, who in 1905 got first prize in the Barley flower show (the next village) for 2 cabbages. It is possible that it was him although he would only have been 10.
By 1911 the family had moved to Walsworth, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with James working as a horseman on farm. The census recorded they had been married for 22 years with 9 children, of whom 1 had died. The children then listed were George (21), Alfred, then 16 and a laundry van boy, Arthur (13), Charles (11), Ernest (7), Herbert (5) and Grace (2).
Before joining the army Alfred had worked at the Pioneer Laundry in Letchworth. His home was at Well Cottage, Walsworth, and at the time of his death he was engaged to be married.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted in Hitchin, Herts and the National Roll of the Great War suggests that he volunteered at the outbreak of war in August 1914.
He was given the Regimental Number 12069 and posted to the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Bedfords which was in the 112th Brigade part of the 37th Division in VI Corps of the 3rd Army. He went to France in July 1915 with Stanley Herbert Leete, from whom he took over distribution of the Hitchin War Comforts Fund.
Alfred fought at the Battle of Loos in 1915, the Battle of the Somme and Battle of Albert in 1916 and was killed in action during the Battle of Arras. His Company Officer, Captain Dennis H. Blake wrote: “It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that your son, Sergeant A. J. Sapsed, was killed in action on April 9, instantaneously, by a piece of shrapnel, as he was leading his platoon in a very successful attack. I have known your son since the battalion was formed at Aldershot, and have watched him throughout his career in the army. He was always cheerful and willing, and was a gallant Sergeant who will be badly missed both by officers and men in the company. The whole company offer its deep sympathy in your great loss.”
At the time of his death, the 6th Battalion was engaged in the capture of La Bergere east of Arras, but encountered considerable opposition from the Germans and difficulties with uncut wire and casualties were heavy.
Alfred has no known grave, but his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £15 and pay owing of £8 5s 10d.
Pension cards exist with his mother as dependant, but do not record how much pension was awarded. Her address was initially listed as Walsworth, Hitchin, later changed to Church Green, Great Wymondley, Herts.
Alfred’s older brother George served in France with the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport) and younger brother Arthur served in the Royal Navy. Both survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, Cilla DysonDavid C Baines, Jonty Wild
