Alfred Charles Crowford

An Engineer with Steam Drifter Reliance (Lowestoft), Alfred died on 7th of October 1917 at the age of 34. 

Alfred was born at Lowestoft in 1883, a son of John and Hannah Eliza Crowford. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 29 September 1883. In 1891 his family lived at Horn Hill. By 1901 they were living at 4 Mill Road, Horn Hill, and Alfred was a stationary engine cleaner.  

On 14 February 1909 Alfred married Alice Maud Buckles at Saint John's Church, Lowestoft. Alfred was an engine driver living at 29 Horn Hill, and Alice lived at 69 London Road North. In 1911 they lived at 20 Cambridge Terrace, Saint Leonard’s Road, and Alfred was a stationary engine driver for an ice manufacturer. Later Alice lived at 85 Stanley Street. 

In 1917 Alfred was a Seaman with the Drifter Reliance, LT 694. The Reliance sailed from Lowestoft, on Saturday 29 September, to fish between Wintertons Ridge and Smiths Knoll, and was due to return on Monday 8 October. The Reliance was seen by several boats outside Winterton Ridge during the evening of October 6. A member of the crew of the Lord Roberts, William Westmate, stated at an inquiry that his crew had hauled their nest and gone below when, about five minutes later, they heard an explosion. This was presumed to be the Reliance striking a mine. All ten of the Reliance’s crew were lost. 

See: 1914 – 1918 Lowestoft Fisherman: killed by enemy action – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry

Alfred’s brother Benjamin died in 1947 in the loss of the trawler Bucentaur. Alfred’s brother-in-law, Frederick Block, served with the Royal Fusiliers and died in 1917.