Name
Alfred Cannon
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
696796
Canadian Infantry
31st Bn.
‘C’ Coy
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
He was the son of the late Charles and Elizabeth Cannon of 9, Walsworth Road, Hitchin. Alfred was born 24th September 1886 in Hitchin.
His enlistment papers record him as 29 years 8 month, 5’ 8 1/2” with blue eyes and black hair.
Alfred was born in Hitchin on 24 September 1886 to Charles and Elizabeth Cannon
In 1891 the family were living at No. 9 Walsworth and consisted of parents: Charles (38) Eliza (Elizabeth 39), Charles was working as a railway labourer. Their children were Bertha (10), Gertrude (7), Alfred (6) and Ethel (3).
By 1901 Albert had left home and at The Rectory, Radwell, Herts. working as a groom and gardener domestic, for the Procko family.
He has not been found in the 1911 census, perhaps he had already emigrated to Canada.
Alfred was living in Brant, Alberta, Canada, when he enlisted on 12 May 1916. At that time he gave his next of kin as his father, Charles Cannon of 9 Walworth, near Hitchin. He was a farmer, 5’ 8 ½”, with medium complexion, blue eyes and black hair. He joined the 175th Battalion.
Wartime Service
He embarked from Halifax, Canada on 14 October 1916, on the SS Saxonia and then disembarked in Liverpool 13 October 1916. He was transferred to the 21st Reserve Battalion on 11 January 1917 and transferred overseas to the 31st Battalion on 19 January 1917, landing on the 20th and finally joining his new Battalion in the field 3 March 1917.
On the day of his death the Battalion was part of the 6th Brigade, 2 Canadian Division, 1st Army. The 6th Brigade attacked Fresnoy 3 miles east of Vimy and were on the left of the most northerly Division involved in the attack which extended to about 15 miles in length. The Brigade was held up by uncut wire and suffered heavy casualties. The enraged survivors swarmed into Fresnoy and battered to death any German machine gunners they could find to avenge the deaths of their comrades. He was in ‘C’ Company of the Battalion and was initially reported wounded and missing.
The Canadian circumstances of death document records: “From the information available, he went over in an attack on the enemy’s front line and was last seen after reaching the wire, Since then no information has been received concerning him.”
He has no known grave and is remembered on the Vimy Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
His Will was made out leaving his real estate to his sister Gertrude Cannon and his personal estate, to his mother Elizabeth, both at the Walsworth address
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, The Canadian digital library & Archives www.bac-lac.gc.ca, Jonty Wild
