Name
Alfred Edgar Docker
16th November 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/05/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2741
London Regiment *1
1st/13th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Wesleyan Methodist (now Bushey & Oxhey) Church Memorial, Oxhey,
St Matthew's Church Memorial, Oxhey,
Westbury War Memorial, Wiltshire
Pre War
Born in West Bromwich on 16th November 1892 (registered in West Bromwich district), Alfred Edgar Docker was the son of Frederick Ernest Macdonald and Martha (née Pike) Docker of Westbury, Wilts. Frederick Docker was a Congregational Minister and they were married in 1874 in the Birmingham registration district. In the 1891 Census, they were living in West Bromwich.
Frederick and Martha had ten children, nine of whom survived, and in the 1901 Census the family was living at 83, Montpelier Road, Camberwell, Surrey. Frederick and Martha are shown as 48 and 50 years respectively, and the children listed as Frederick (Jnr.) aged 26, Ada aged 25, Edwin aged 23, George aged 20, Alice aged 18, Elizabeth aged 16, Charles aged 13, Mable aged 11 and Alfred E aged 8.
Alfred attended Peckham Council School, London, before going to Hendon Council School, Middlesex until December 1907. He does not appear to have been at school between December 1907 to September 1908, and then finally was at Trowbridge Boys’ High School, Wiltshire, from 15 September 1908 to 21 December 1909. . He was an undergraduate at London University.
Albert’s brother Frederick (Jnr.) had married (registered Hampstead district) a Helen Fitz Gerald in 1910 and at the time of the 1911 Census Albert was living with them at 60, Hillfield Road, West Hampstead. He was employed as a bank clerk.
Martha and Frederick (Snr.) died on 25 Feb 1918 and 17 Oct 1918 respectively and, at the time, were living at The Manse, Leigh Road, Westbury, Wiltshire – both were buried there in Westbury Cemetery.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted in Kensington as Private 2741 with the 1st/13th Kensington Battalion, London Regiment. He was resident in Bushey at that time, but there do not appear to be any local records confirming this. He enlisted in Kensington, London and served in France and Flanders from 11 February 1915 and he died, aged 22, on 9 May 1915.
His pension record indicates this was Presumed Dead on 9 May 1915.
He is remembered with honour at the Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 10. He is also commemorated on the memorials at Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church, St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey, Oxhey War Memorial and Westbury, Wilts. War Memorial.
Albert was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Alfred’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Andrew Palmer, Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
