Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Blackshaw an iron and steel turner, born 1849 in Manchester, Lancashire and his wife Jessie Blackshaw, born 1859 in Exeter, Devon. Alfred was born in the 2nd quarter of 1898 in Quorn, Leicestershire, his siblings were Albert Henry, born 1889, Florence Emily, born 1891, Sidney, born 1892 and Frederick James, born 1894, all his siblings were born in Lambeth, Surrey, in March 1901 the family home was at Wight’s Houses, Wood Lane, Quorn. In April 1911 Alfred was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Wood Lane Cottages, Quorn, together with his father, an iron turner, his mother and siblings, Albert, an elastic braid maker, Sidney, a quarry trade driller and Frederick, a rubber trade worker. Alfred had three half blood siblings, Edna Louisa, born 1871, Mary born 1872 and Leah, born 1873, all three siblings were born in Warwickshire and were from his father’s first marriage to Mary Ann Blackshaw (nee Banks, married in the 2nd quarter of 1870 in the Aston, Warwickshire district) who was born in 1849 in Staffordshire, and died in the 2nd quarter of 1875 in the Birmingham Warwickshire district, aged 26. Alfred first entered the theatre of war on the 25th May 1915 in the Balkans and was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. Due to his dying intestate, and no next of kin having been traced, Alfred’s medals remained in possession of the military authorities until the they were claimed by his mother on the 23rd February 1923.
The War Diary records: 28 Jun-15 – GRANITO. 11.00am. Bombardment. SOUTH WALES BORDERERS rushed forward and captured the trench J.10.
11.07am. “A” and “B” Companies 1st KINGS OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS went forward and through the SOUTH WALES BORDERERS and captured J.11 and at once began making it into a fire trench. One platoon of “A” Company went up the ravine.
11.15am. “C” and “D” Companies 1st KINGS OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS went forward and joined up with “A” and “B” Companies in J.11.
7.00pm. Distribution of trenches took place. And from then the Battalion occupied J.11 from junction of J.10.a., the ravine, from J.11. to H.11., also H and part of H.11. This was in support to the BORDER REGIMENT which was holding J.11.a. Casualties. 8 officers. 223 other ranks.
On Friday September 10th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” QUORN SOLDIER KILLED. – Private Alfred Blackshaw, of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, was killed in the Dardanelles on June 29th, and his parents who live at Quorn, have only just received intimation. He was 17 years of age, and enlisted about six months ago.
On Friday October 20th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – QUORN CASUALTIES. – MR. AND MRS. FLANDERS SECOND LOSS. Private J. P. Flanders of the Leicester’s, according to private letters, has been killed in action. He was a son of Mr. R. Flanders, of Quorn (formerly in service with the late Colonel and Hon. Montagu Curzon, and then with Mrs. Arthur King at Gar-?-, Woodhouse). Mr. and Mrs. Flanders had three sons in the Army, and have now lost two, one having been drowned in the Tigris last year. Private Hollingworth (28), of the Leicester’s, a Quorn man who worked with his father in the market garden and nurseryman’s business, has been killed. He joined the colours eight months ago. Private S. Blackshaw, Durham Light Infantry, of Quorn, is dangerously wounded and in hospital. His brother was killed in the Gallipoli Peninsula. Private G. Bell, Private S. North, Sergt. Redhead and Private L. Brewin, all of the Leicester’s and belonging to Quorn are in hospital suffering from wounds.