Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Alfred Bunn an agricultural labourer, born 14th December 1845 in Earsham, Norfolk and his wife Louisa Bunn (nee Cooke, married 23rd August 1868 in the Parish Church, Howe, Norfolk), born 20th August 1842 in Brooke, Norfolk. Alfred Charles was born 10th February 1875 in Brooke, Norfolk, his siblings were, William James, born 1871 in Shottisham, Suffolk and Louisa Rebecca, born 1st July 1879 in Norfolk, in April 1881 the family home was at Bramerton, Norfolk. In April 1891 Alfred was employed as an agricultural labourer and was residing in the family home at The Green, Themelthorpe, Norfolk, together with his father, an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings, William, an agricultural labourer, Louisa, a schoolgirl and Laura Eliza, a schoolgirl, born 8th February 1882 in Bramerton, Norfolk. In 1901 Alfred was absent from the family home at The Green, Hedenham, Loddon, Norfolk, residing there was his father, a farm labourer, his mother and sister, Louisa. Alfred married Martha Mary Ann Townshend on the 28th May 1904 in the Parish Church, Ashmanhaugh, Norfolk. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as a gun cleaner and was residing in the family home at West End, Uppingham, Rutland together with his wife, Martha Bunn, born 1885 in Norfolk and their children, Alfred Charles, born 19th November 1904 in Horning, Norfolk, Dorothy Evelyn, born 28th December 1905 in Norfolk, Maurice Ernest, born 15th July1907 and Leslie, born 9th September 1909, the latter two siblings were both born in Uppingham, Rutland. They had two further children, George, born 10th June 1911 in Forehoe, Norfolk and Reginald Eric, born 8th October 1912 in Uppingham. Alfred’s mother died in 1924 in Blofield, Norfolk, aged 82 and his father died in 1933 in Norwich, Norfolk, aged 88.
After Alfred’s death his wife and family moved to Wymondham Park, East Runton, Norfolk. He left a total of six children, the eldest being eleven.
He was an old soldier who had served as a Lance Corporal in the Norfolk Regiment during the Boer War. Prior to enlistment he was employed in the school armoury and was much respected by all at Uppingham. Shortly after the outbreak of war he volunteered for active service, joining the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. Soon after enlistment he was promoted to Sergeant and proceeded to the front with his Battalion. He was killed in action near Ypres by a mine which was exploded by the Germans. It buried a lot of the men, and when Sergeant Bunn was found he was dead. Captain Griffiths wrote to his widow:- “Your husband was killed whilst nobly doing his duty in his trench, which was unfortunately blown up by the enemy. Death must have been instantaneous. He is a great loss to the Company and everyone liked him very much. I personally looked upon him as one of my best N.C.O.’s he being always so cool and collected and always willing to do his duty when called upon. He has been buried by his comrades in the Military Cemetery behind the firing line, and his grave is carefully marked with a cross.” Colonel Jones says:- “He was an ideal soldier. May it be a consolation to you to bring up your children in the knowledge that their father was a good and noble man, who did not hesitate to come forward when his country was in trouble – who came forward gladly and willingly – who says that his country’s call was his children’s call too. May his action persuade all to follow his example and thus save our homes from the terrors of war. And if your children are permitted while growing up to have a quiet and happy home, they must be taught that it is due to the noble conduct of their father and the great sacrifice he was content to make for them.” Sergeant Bunn was an all round sportsman, being a good cricketer and a first class left hand bowler. He was also a useful footballer, a clever whist and bridge player, and a most capable cueist.
Alfred enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 25th September 1893 in Norwich, and was allotted the service number 3727. He gave his place of birth as Brooke, near Norwich, Norfolk and age as 18 years 7 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as labourer.
His medical examination took place in Norwich on the 25th September 1893 and recorded his apparent age as 18 years 7 months, that he was 5 feet 5¾ inches in height, weighed 129 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was black. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar right eyebrow. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, James Alfred Bunn, Themelthorpe, Norfolk.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Norwich. 25/9/1893.
Posted. Depot Norfolk Regt. Pte. 25/9/1893.
Transferred. To 2nd Bn. Norfolk Regt. 8/1/1894.
Granted. 1st Good Conduct Pay. 25/9/1895.
Transferred. To 1st Bn. Norfolk Regt. 11/12/1895.
Elected to come under Regulations governing Issue of Messing Allowance in accordance with provisions of para.5 Army Order 65 of 1898. 1/6/1898.
Awarded. Certificate of Army Education 2nd Class. 15/8/1899
Granted. 2nd Good Conduct Pay. 25/9/1899.
Lebong. 13/10/02.
Transferred. To Army Reserve. 20/3/03.
Discharged. On termination of 1st Period. 24/9/05.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 25/9/1893 - 10/12/1895. 2 years 77 days.
India. 11/12/1895 - 3/12/02. 6 years 358 days.
Home Service. 4/12/02 - 24/9/05. 2 years 295 days.
Total Service. 12 years.
Alfred’s Army enlistment documents for his service during the Great War period do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 2348, and was posted as a Private to the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 28th February 1915. He was awarded the 1914-15 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 23 Jul-15 - ZILLEBEKE. At 6.55pm small mine exploded under enemy’s gallery opposite A.1. At 7.00pm exploded large mine under enemy’s salient. At 7.01pm artillery opened fire on crater and enemy supports. The redoubt in salient completely destroyed. Enemy’s casualties estimated at 40. At 9.22pm enemy exploded large mine in front of trench 5.B. destroying portions of parapet and inflicting 40 casualties. Enemy trench mortared the crater, thus hindering work of rescue and of linking crater with line of defences. 2nd Lieutenant’s R. C. LAWTON, E. E. WYNNE and N. C. MARRIOTT having arrived from England have been taken on the strength of the Battalion Officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the 17th Division were attached to the Battalion for instruction during the last tour of duty. This remedied to some extent the wastage in the Battalion which at one time contained only 9 Company officers and 474 trench rifles.
On Friday 30th July 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” - “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” – The wife of Sergt. A. C. BUNN, of the 5th Leicester Regiment, Leicester-road, Uppingham, received a letter of Wednesday morning from Capt. Griffiths, Commanding B Co, 5th Leicestershire Regiment, stating that her husband was killed on Friday night last, the trench which he was in being blown up by the enemy, and that death must have been instantaneous. Sergt. Bunn was 40 years of age, and had served through the Boer War, at that time being in the Norfolk Regiment. At the outbreak of the present war he was employed at the School Armoury, and with several other Uppingham men volunteered for service. The widow is left with six children, the eldest being barely 12 years old. Lance-Corpl. R. E. Fowler, who was with Bunn and the other Uppingham men, was stunned by the explosion and is now in hospital. The remainder of the Uppingham men were unhurt.
On Friday August 6th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MORE STORIES BY EYE WITNESSES.” – GRAPHIC DETAILS. A Melton Mowbray Territorial belonging to No.5 Platoon, “B” Company, 5th Battalion Leicestershire Territorial’s, writes the following interesting letter:- “I hope by now you know that I am quite safe. It was awful, but you know we have to expect anything out here. Our Engineers had just blown up two mines, and we had seen sandbags, men, buckets, and other things go up in the air. We were saying we should have something to tell the people in Melton when we get home again when there was the biggest crash I have ever heard. I was the end man of our trench, and there were F. Linnett, P. Underwood, and Jerry Boulger with me. Before I had time to move, the dirt and other things were dropping on me. I thought it would never stop, but when it did I jumped up and got my rifle, and I was ready if anyone came. The other three ran up the trench to see what they could do. Well, I cannot describe to you what the trench looked like. If the mine had been about 6 yards further there would not have been many of the Melton men left. While some of our men were firing the others were digging the men out who were buried. Poor Arthur Rogers was the first man to be got out, but he was dead. Then others followed – Arch. Marston, Syd. Newton, J. Atter, H. Plowman, B. Newton - and I think they are getting on all right. (A subsequent letter from the same writer states that Plowman has since died in hospital). Some of the others got out themselves, and either started firing or digging. It was marvellous to see how the men behaved, and it has been noticed and appreciated by the General. We got other men out, poor fellows they were dead, Sgt. Bunn, from Uppingham, leaves six children, and poor Walter Simpson leaves a widow and one child, the others were Cpl. W. Ibbetson, and Ptes. Pennington Foister, Pick, Wilson and Rogers from Melton, and Ptes. Hall, Gray, Buswell, Andrews from Coalville and district. Of course there were others who had to go out of the trench suffering from shock. It was our Platoon who caught it, and out of about 40 who went to the trenches nine of us marched out again. Aaron Sharp and J. Ruddle got blown up in the air, and dropped in a trench at the back. Aaron says he thinks Jimmy Ruddle started first up in the air, but he doesn't know who dropped first. Jimmy Atter was buried for three hours, and when G. Boulger got him out he said: ‘Hello Jerry! I never remember being buried alive before.’ When they took him away he said: ‘I should think this means another bar on my medal.’ I think we had sixteen killed this time in, and I don’t know how many wounded. One thing we are still smiling, and looking forward to better times. I am enclosing a copy of a letter which we had sent to us by the Officer Commanding. I want you to keep smiling, and don't get downhearted, for, as you know, it might have been worse. You will hear all about it in the papers. What I am pleased about is that we never left the trench, and what Germans came soon went back who were not shot. Thanks so much for the box you sent. The contents were lovely and they were a treat. I divided them among the chaps who were left in our platoon. I know you will not mind, for you know how the chaps felt. I had a double box of Tangerine oranges, box of tomatoes, one of apples, and fifteen hundred Woodbines, and three pounds of Gold Flake tobacco. Walter came to our place, but I was in the trenches. I expect he will come again. Don't forget to tell everyone I know that I am still smiling. If anyone wants a bit of excitement tell them to join the army. I'm having the time of my life and it will take more than this to upset me.”
In the same issue the following further article was published under the heading. “COMRADES SYMPATHY.” - We have received the following letter:- “July 29th. Dear Editor, - the N.C.O.s and men of No.5 Platoon, wish to sympathise through your paper, with the relatives and friends of the Melton men who were killed in action on the 23rd ult. by a mine explosion under the trench they were holding. We can assure them that their loss will be ours, as we were like one big family, and we feel it very much. We think it will help them to bear the loss by knowing that they were killed while doing their duty. Believe us to remain yours sincerely, - N.C.O.s and men No.5 Platoon, B Company.