Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Farley Baum a stone quarry worker, born in the January quarter of 1860 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire (son of Joseph Baum, 1823-1900 and Eliza Perry, 1823-1907) and his wife Rebecca Baum (nee Wesley, married on the 23rd February 1886 in St. Peter’s Church, Mountsorrel), born 1865 in Mountsorrel (daughter of George Wesley). Alfred, a schoolboy, was born in the July quarter of 1886 in Mountsorrel, in April 1891 the family home was at Quorn Road, Mountsorrel. In March 1901 Alfred was employed as a stone quarry sett maker and was residing in the family home at 3, Quorn Road, Mountsorrel, together with his father, a stone quarry worker, his mother and sibling Wilford, born in the April quarter of 1891 in Mountsorrel. In April 1911 Alfred was absent from the family home at 3, Quorn Road, Mountsorrel, residing there was his father, s tone quarry cutter, his mother and brother, Wilford, a blacksmith’s striker, meanwhile Alfred was employed as a stone quarry sett maker and was residing as a boarder at Heath Cottage, Clee Hill, Ludlow, Salop. Alfred’s younger brother Wilford, died on the 21st June 1917, from accidental gas poisoning.
FAMILY NOTE: Alfred’s father was officially registered at birth with the Christian name spelling of Farley, but afterwards he appears to have adopted the spelling of Firley and Furley.
Alfred enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 7th October 1914 in Darlington, and was allotted the regimental service number 18/22. He gave his place of birth as Mountsorrel, near Loughborough, Leicestershire and age as 28 years 77 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as sett dresser.
His medical examination took place in Darlington on the 6th October 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 28 years 77 days, that he was 5-feet 7 inches in height, weighed 147 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 36 and 38 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had hazel eyes and his hair colour was dark brown and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Firley, 96, Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel, Loughborough, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. On 7/10/14.
Joined. At Cocken Hall. 7/10/14.
Posted. To 18th County Bn. Durham Light Infantry. Pte. 7/10/14.
Embarked. To join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Egypt. 6/12/15.
Disembarked. Egypt. 22/12/15.
Embarked. To join British Expeditionary Force, France. 5/3/16.
Disembarked. Marseilles, France. 11/3/16.
Killed in action. In the Field. 3/8/16.
Buried. In St. Vaast Post Military cemetery, Richebourg L/Avoue, France. Headstone inscription: - “GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.”
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 7/10/14 – 5/12/15. 1 year 60 days.
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Egypt. 6/12/15 – 4/3/16. 90 days.
France. 5/3/16 – 3/8/16. 152 days.
Total Service. 1 year 302 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: There are no diary entries for the 1st to the 3rd August 1916, however the 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was involved in an action that commenced on the 27th July and continued until they were relieved in trenches at 1.30pm on the 4th August by the 14th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment, the Battalion then moved into billets at La Fosse.
On Friday August 18th 1916, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MOUNTSORELL SOLDIER KILLED.” Mr. and Mrs. Furley Baum, of the Granite Company’s Cottages, Mountsorrel, have been notified that their son, Private Alfred Baum has been killed. He was 30 years of age, and was employed prior to his enlistment in the Durham Light Infantry in the quarrying industry at Middleton (Wales).