No.O/417, Rifleman, Alfred Edward DOE
Aged 19
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Alfred Doe was born in Wanstead in 1899 (West Ham Q1-1899 4A:346), the son of Alfred Edward and Emily DOE (née DRAKE). 1901 census... Aged 2, he was at 2 Leucha Road, Walthamstow with his father, Alfred E. DOE [35] a market porter, born in Chippenham; his mother Emily [34] born in Chippenham and sister Dorothy L. [5] born in Chippenham. 1911 census... Aged 12, he was at New Row, Chippenham, with his parents. Father Alfred was now a postman. Four children had been born by Emily but one had died. By the time of his pension card, his parents were at Coronation Cottage, High Street, Chippenham |
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He enlisted in Stratford. "Soldiers Died" has his death as 4th March 1918. The war diaries of the 9th Battalion are very sketchy for this period of the Battle for St Quentin. It appears that on the 21st the 9th Rifle Brigade moved up to the railway embankment at Montescourt, two companies being sent forward to the 41st Brigade to escort guns in front of Clastres, and then covered the retirement of the Division. On the 23rd enemy attacked and as the battalions left flank was found to be in the air, it retired to the Cugny road where it remained until 12 noon on the 24th, when it was relieved. The 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade had 32 killed on the 24th March 1918, only six have identified graves. |
photo - Roy Beardsworth
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