Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Brown a granite quarry worker, born on the 10th January 1874 in Shepshed, Leicestershire (son of John Brown, 1848-1920 and Tamar Wortley, 1844-1910) and his wife Agnes Brown (nee Savage, married in the April quarter of 1892 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born in the April quarter of 1873 in Shepshed (daughter of William Savage and Bessey Danvers). Alfred Louis (Lewis) was born on the 9th October 1898 in Shepshed, his siblings were John William, born in the April quarter of 1896 and Gertrude, born in the July quarter of 1900, both his siblings were born in Shepshed, in March 1901 the family home was at Bridge Street, Shepshed. In April 1911 Alfred was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 1, Factory Street, Shepshed, together with his father, a quarry driller, his mother and siblings, John, a baker’s boy, Gertrude, a schoolgirl, Arthur, a schoolboy, born on the 29th June 1904, Hilda, born in the July quarter of 1907 and Charles, born on the 30th December 1909, the latter three siblings were all born in Shepshed. Alfred also had a younger sibling, Constance M., born on the 12th May 1917 in Shepshed.
Alfred was deemed to have enlisted into the Regular Army for General Service on the 9th April 1917 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 38936. He gave his age as 18 years 219 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He gave his present address as Factory Street, Shepshed, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 13th February 1917 and recorded his apparent age as 18 years -?- days, that he was 5 feet 5 inches in height, weighed 123 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35½ inches and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Roman Catholic.
He gave his next of kin as his father, James Brown, Factory Street, Shepshed.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Enlisted. Loughborough. 4/4/17.
Deemed to have enlisted. 9/4/17.
Called up for service. Pte. 9/4/17.
Posted. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 9/4/17.
Transferred. 2nd Training Reserve Battalion, Rugeley. Allotted service number 76094. Pte. 14/4/17.
Transferred. Authority 1st T.R. Brigade 6541 d/30/10/1917. To the 3rd. Bn. Durham Light Infantry. Allotted service number 77404. Pte. 2/11/17.
Posted. Base Depot British Expeditionary Force. Pte. 12/12/17.
Posted. From E. Depot to 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry. Pte. 13/12/17.
Re-Posted. From E Depot to 14th Bn. Durham Light Infantry. Pte. 15/12/17.
Joined. 14th Bn. Durham Light Infantry. 20/12/17.
Re-Posted. 22nd Bn. Durham Light Infantry (Pioneers) “C” Company. Pte. 6/2/18.
Joined unit. In the Field. 7/2/18.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 26/3/18.
Admitted. 25th Field Ambulance. Gunshot wound to chest. 27/3/18.
Admitted. 55th Casualty Clearing Station, France. 27/3/18.
Died of wounds in 55th Casualty Clearing Station. 27/3/18.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 9/4/17 – 11/12/17. 247 days.
France. 12/12/17 – 27/3/18. 106 days.
Total Service. 353 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Alfred’s surviving service record is in extremely poor condition, the hand written information in some cases is barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of service.
The War Diary records: 25 Mar-18 – SOMME. At 9.00am the enemy attacked in strength and it was found necessary to withdraw owing to our flanks being isolated and a line was taken up on the North East of PERTAIN which after being held for about an hour and again with flanks in the air it was decided to retire on to OMIECOURT to a line approximately B.9.a.2.7 to B.9.b.3.3. This position was taken up about 12 Noon and held until orders were issued for the Battalion to withdraw at 4.00pm to CHAULNES RIDGE North East of CHAULNES.
Estimated casualties 14 Officers and 400 Other Ranks.
The War Diary records: 26 Mar-18 – SOMME. At dawn on the 26th the Battalion were withdrawn to LIHONS at 7.00am took up a position on the East of the village across the LIHONS – CHAULNES ROAD, this line being held until 3.30pm when the Battalion was withdrawn in a South Westerly direction to a position West of ROSIERES (BRICK FACTORY).