Alfred George Fuller

A Private with the 1/4th Battalion, Alfred died on 18th of August 1916 at the age of 21. 

Alfred was born at Kirkley on 16 August 1895, a son of Leander and Alice Maud Fuller. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 10 February 1897. From 1 May 1899 Alfred was a pupil at Kirkley School. In 1901 his family lived at Kirkley Street. In 1911 the family’s address was 23 Kirkley Street and Alfred was a butcher’s boy. 

Alfred volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in 1914. He joined the Suffolk Regiment and served with the 1/4th Battalion. He was mobilized when the war began, and he arrived in France with the 1/4th Battalion on 8 November 1914. 

On 14 August 1916 the 1/4th Battalion moved into an area of trenches known as Seaforth, Black Watch and Worcester Trenches, near High Wood. At 2.45 p.m. on 18 August the battalion attacked the German trenches opposite their position as part of a brigade assault. D and C Companies reached the German line but had to retire as they had both flanks ‘in the air’ and no reinforcements were forthcoming. Two Lewis rifles (machine-guns) were positioned in the German trench and hostile bombing attacks repulsed. Finally, the men withdrew to Seaforth Trench. 

In the attack the battalion had three officers killed and three wounded, and 33 other ranks killed, 108 wounded, 17 missing presumed killed and 23 missing.  

Alfred was killed in action on 18 August.