Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Aldridge a grain warehouseman, born 1867 in Sutton Bonnington, Nottinghamshire and his wife Emma Louisa Aldridge (nee Wright, married on the 24th November 1884 in St. Mary’s Church, Arnold, Nottinghamshire), born 30th May 1867 in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Alfred George was born in the 3rd quarter of 1894 in Normanton on Soar, Nottinghamshire and was baptised on the 5th August 1894 in St. James’ Church, Normanton on Soar, his siblings were, Florence Ada, a hose mender, born 3rd July 1885 and Hilda Elizabeth, a wool weaver, born in the 4th quarter of 1887, both his siblings were born in Normanton on Soar, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at 25, Hastings Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Alfred was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 24, Broad Street, Loughborough, together with his father a warehouseman and his mother. Alfred also had an older sister Ethel, Louisa, born in the 2nd quarter of 1889 in Nottinghamshire.
Alfred’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Yeomanry, being allotted the service number 1860, and was posted as a Trumpeter to the 1/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 2nd November 1914. He is mentioned in the War Diary for his unit as having been shot by a sniper on the 7th February 1915. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 7 Feb-15 - ZILLEBEKE. No.1860 Trooper G. A. ALDRIDGE, "C" Squadron killed by rifle bullet and No.1309 Sergeant C. E. VALON, "B" Squadron and No.1836 Lance Corporal G. R. DIXON, "B" Squadron wounded, the former seriously. More sniping by the enemy, especially on the right of our line, than on previous days.
On Tuesday February 16th 1915 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTER’S ROLL OF HONOUR.” – Trumpeter G. A. Aldridge, of the Loughborough Squadron, Leicestershire Yeomanry, who was killed in action on Sunday, February 7th by a sniper. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Aldridge, of 24, Broad-street, Loughborough. The photograph was taken at the Yeomanry Camp last year; Aldridge was on a motor cycle with a comrade sitting on the carrier behind him.
On Friday February 19th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY CASUALTIES. – Among the casualties reported from General Headquarters on February 8th, was the name of Second Lieutenant F. A. H. Part, Leicestershire Yeomanry. In a note received from Sergeant Major Parker, of the Loughborough Squadron of the Leicestershire Yeomanry, received on Thursday, Mr. and Mrs. G. Aldridge, of 24, Broad Street, Loughborough, are informed that their only son, 1860, Trumpeter G. A. Aldridge, of the Loughborough Squadron, was killed in action by a rifle shot the previous Sunday morning. There was a rumour in Loughborough that Corporal T. Tyler, the son of Mr. J. Tyler, of the Corporation Hotel, Loughborough, also of the Loughborough Squadron, was severely wounded, but on enquiry at the hotel, a Press representative was informed that the only intimation received from the War Office was a message that the corporal was suffering from influenza. News has reached friends and relatives of Mr. Charles E. D. Valon, who is a sergeant in the Leicestershire Yeomanry, and who was wounded dangerously in the recent fighting in Flanders, that he is progressing very favourably, Sergeant Valon is at present in hospital at Boulogne.
On Friday March 12th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. YEOMANRY CASUALTIES. – The following Leicestershire Yeomanry casualties have been announced during the past week: - Wounded: Pte. W. Moore, Lance Corpl. C. R. Dixon, Sergt. C. Valon and Corpl. J. Needham. Killed: Trumpeter G. A. Aldridge.