Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Bowley a cow keeper and grazier, born 1855 in Shepshed, Leics., and his wife Mary, born 1853 in Shepshed, Leics. Alfred was born in 1879 in Nanpantan, Leics., he had one sibling, a brother Arthur, born 1881 in Nanpantan, Leics., in April 1881 the family home was at Nanpantan, Leics. In April 1891 Alfred was a scholar and was residing in the family home at Forest Road, Loughborough, Leics., together with his father, now an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings, Arthur, Herbert, born 1883 in Shepshed, Leics., Nelly, born 1886, Mary Agness, born 1888 and Frank, born 1891, the latter three siblings were all born in Nanpantan, Leics. His younger brother Arthur fell in action. The War Diary for today records. ERVILLERS. 1.00am. One Company of the WELSH REGT attempted to reinforce them but found it impossible and suffered many casualties. 1.00 to 4.30am. Heavy machine gun fire and any movement was impossible owing to the bright moonlight. 4.30 to 5.30am. Firing died down and few of our casualties were cleared. 7.30am. After very heavy machine gun fire Germans rushed the line from left flank in large numbers and the posts, all of which resisted to the last were either killed or captured. A few men from each Company fighting their way back to the ERVILLERS – BEHAIGNES ROAD. The Battalion consisted of Commanding Officer and 25 men. 10.30am. Remaining men took a position in support of the LINCOLNSHIRE REGT behind the road. 1.30pm. BEHAIGNIES was evacuated by the Division on our right and conforming to the movements of the LINCOLNSHIRE REGT we fell back to a new line covering GOMMECOURT. 2.30 to 7.30pm. Quiet, the Germans could be seen in large numbers coming down the MORY slopes. 7.30pm. Battalion relieved by 120th Brigade. Estimates casualties 18 officers and 414 other ranks. Battalion rested at DOUCHY-LES-AYETTES.