2664, Corporal, Alfred George PRINCE
Aged 24
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Born in Newmarket in Q3-1891 [Newmarket 3b:504], 3rd son of John and Caroline PRINCE (née HARVEY) of 27 Turf Terrace (then Lower
Station Road) Newmarket.
1901 census...Alfred [9] was at 27 Truf Terrace, Newmarket with his father John [45], a stableman, born Bottisham; his mother Caroline [44] born Newmarket; brothers Percy [14] butchers errand boy and William E [12] and sister Alice M. [8]. All the children were Newmarket born. 1911 census...Alfred [19] a general labourer, was the only child of the seven left at home with his parents, still at 27 Turf Terrace. At the time of his enlistment in Lewisham, he was living in Peckham. |
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As part of the 55th Brigade of the 18th (Eastern) Division they were attacking at Thiepval
The British line on 28th September ran roughly along the line of Zollern Trench. At 1pm 18th Div began an assault on Schwaben Redoubt and surrounding defences.
7th Bn Queen’s Regt was tasked with taking the redoubt itself while 8th Suffolks on the right was to take the Midway Line and 8th Norfolks were the moppers
up. The Suffolks moved through Bulgar Trench but were held up in the assault on Midway Line. At 2.30pm they were almost in the eastern end of the Redoubt.
The Queen’s meanwhile had lost their bearings but eventually reached the Redoubt where they occupied the south edge and linked with the Suffolks in Midway
Line. 54 Bde sent two companies of 7th Bedfords and a party of 1/5th West Yorks to assault the west face of the redoubt. They also occupied a trench running
NW from it. During the night these troops fought off a German bombing attack and were relieved by 7th Royal West Kents. On this day Alfred's battalion was severely mauled, 100 men being killed, 12 are with Alfred in Connaught Cemetery, 60 with no known graves |
Alfred originally buried in Thiepval cemetery but concentrated to Connaught in July 1919 photo: Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details