Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Fox, a shepherd, born 1847 in Burton Overy, Leicestershire and his wife Catherine Isabella Fox (nee Bradshaw, married in the 3rd quarter of 1870 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1851 in Burton Overy. Alfred, a schoolboy, was born in the 2nd quarter of 1883 in Burton Overy, his siblings were, William, a schoolboy, born 1880, Florence, a schoolgirl, born 1881, Marion, a schoolgirl, born 1884, Ethel Kate, born 1887 and Ada Ella born 1890, all his siblings were born in Burton Overy, in April 1891 the family home was at Burton Overy. In March 1901 Alfred was absent from the family home in Main Street, Carlton Curlieu, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings, Hettie, a hospital nurse, Ethel and Hilda, born 1893 in Burton, Overy, Alfred was employed as a farm milkman and was residing as a servant at Court Lodge, Great Chart, Ashford, Kent. Alfred married Sarah Ann Luckhurst on the 25th December 1903 in Hothfield, Kent. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as a farm cowman and was residing in the family home at Burnt House, Charing, Westwell, Kent together with his wife Sarah, born 1886 in Great Chart, Kent and their children, Robert Alfred, born 30th July 1904 in Kent, John Henry, born 25th November 1905, in Hothfield, Hilda Ethel, born 24th July 1907 and Thomas William, 21st October 1908, the latter two children were both born in Pluckley, Kent and Frances Rose, born 5th June 1910 in Westwell, Kent. After the 1911 census was taken the following children were born Louie Gladys, born 6th January 1912 and Harry Leonard, born 26th October 1915. In the 3rd quarter of 1920, Alfred’s widow married Henry Wilson in the West Ashford, Kent district, they resided at 25, Rugby Gardens, South Ashford, Kent.
Alfred attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War) on the 20th July 1915 in Maidstone, Kent. He gave his home address as -?- Farm, Bearsted, Kent, his age as 33 years and 4 months and his trade or calling as dairyman. He confirmed that he was married. He was born in Burton Overy, Leicestershire. He gave his next of kin as Mrs. S. Fox of 25, Rugby Gardens, Ashford, Kent. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5½ inches in height, weighed 123 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for field or foreign service on the 20th July 1915 in Maidstone. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Royal West Kent Regiment at Maidstone as a Private, service number G/9218 on the 20/7/15. Posted to the Depot to commence preliminary training on the 20/7/15. Posted to the 9th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment on the -?-. Posted to the 8th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment on the 31/12/15. Died of wounds on the 29/3/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 20/7/15 – 31/12/15, 165 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 1/1/16 – 29/3/16, 88 days. Total service 253 days. Alfred was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. Alfred’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.