No.200525, Sergeant, Herbert Arthur ALDERTON
Aged 24
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Herbert Arthur ALDERTON was born in Haverhill in 1894 (Risbridge Q3-1894 4A:675) son of Robert Thomas and Mary Ann ALDERTON (née
POOLE). The family business was hairdressing, his grandfather William, and father, working in their shop at 8 Queen Street. Originally from St.Ives, Huntingdonshire, his grandfather had practised his trade in Bury St.Edmunds where he married Mary Ann in 1868 and had three children there, including Herbert's father, Robert in 1872. They moved to Haverhill in the late 1870's, living above the shop where their 4th child arrived in 1880. |
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Above is Alderton's hairdressers and barbers shop at 8 Queen Street, Haverhill in 1908 (presumably Herbert's grandfather William (1848-1922) in the
doorway. His youngest son Percy Albert and then his grandson Cliffod Percy Alderton succeeded him. Later signed P.C.Alderton the business continued
to the 1970's, a century of service in Haverhill.
Before long their eldest son, William junior was learning the trade, then marrying and setting up home and business in Braintree. Robert followed in his brother's footsteps as assistant hairdresser, marrying Mary Ann POOLE at St.Mary's, Haverhill on 20th July 1891.They had three children, Herbert being the 2nd son, before moving to Redenhall with Harleston in Norfolk, making way for the younger son, Percy to learn the trade. Robert set up his hairdressing business at home and Mary Ann assisted him as the children were older. Perhaps there was not enough trade for hairdresser, so Herbert left school and started work as a greengrocer's assistant. It was not long before he enlisted in the Army in Harleston 1901 census... Aged 6, he was at Throroughfare, Redenhall with Harleston, Norfolk with his father Robert T.ALDERTON [29] hairdresser born Bury St.Edmunds; his mother Mary Ann [30]; brother Verna P [9] and sister Ivy M [4]. All except his father were born in Haverhill 1911 census...Aged 16, a grocer's apprentice, he was at Broad Street, Rodenhall with Harleston, with his parents and sister Ivy May. |
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He enlisted in Harleston. His medal card has him as Hubert Alderton.
The war diary has:- Achiet le Petit - 23/8/18 - In co-operation with Divisions on right and left, the battn attacked the ARRAS/ALBERT railway and took up position on east side of railway where 13th Inf Brigade came through. All objectives gained. 2nd Lt A E Cosham wounded. Casualties to other ranks slight. CWGC have 10 killed in the battalion that day. Herbert had originally been buried elsewhere and moved to Adanac in 1920. However, the concentration card is missing.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission also commemorated on the war memorial in Harleston click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
