William George Aldred
A Private with the 5th Battalion, William died on 9th of April 1917 at the age of 27.
William was born at Shipmeadow, near Beccles, in 1890 (note some sources state Coddenham, or Beccles, as his place of birth). He was a son of William and Charlotte Jane Aldred. In 1891 his family lived at Beccles and, by 1901, at The Street, Blundeston. Later his parents lived at 2 Crossway Cottages, Corton.
On 11 July 1910 William married Ellen Maude Osborne at Saint Mary’s Church, Blundeston. In 1911 they lived at The Street, Blundeston, and William worked as a gardener. Later Ellen’s address was Ellen Cottages, The Street, Blundeston.
William attested for the Army at Lowestoft on 6 June 1916. He was called up on 5 July 1916 and joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 34776. On 14 November 1916 he was transferred to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, service number 20821, and joined the 3rd Battalion. He arrived in France on 27 November 1916 and joined the 5th Battalion. A document completed by Ellen states that he served with 13 Platoon, D Company, but other documents suggest he served with C Company.
On 7 April 1917 the 5th Battalion moved into positions in the Ronssoy Sector in readiness for the Battle of Arras. Their attack began at 7.43 a.m. and they followed the British barrage. They were meant to be accompanied by four tanks, but these seem to have been bogged down and contributed little to the battalion’s advance. The battalion’s advance meant that they were confronted by a German stronghold at Harp Redoubt, and the aim was to go around Harp Redoubt and over Telegraph Hill. As they advanced their faced the enemy counter-barrage and when they approached Telegraph Hill they came under heavy machine-gun fire. Slight resistance at Telegraph Hill Trench and Head Lane was overcome and over 50 prisoners captured. There was no resistance from Pole Trench, but the battalion had to send a patrol forward to deal with a machine-gun at Nouvion Lane and the patrol captured that machine-gun. By 9.10 a.m. work to consolidate the positions had begun and at 1.15 p.m. the Rifle Brigade were able to pass through the battalion to press on with the attack.
The battalion’s casualties were twelve officers and 189 other ranks.
Several records state that William was wounded and missing on 8 April 1917, and other conclude that he was killed on that date. However, William was buried at Harp Redoubt, map reference N.1.a.b.1, and his grave was marked with a cross stating that he had died on 9 April 1917. Several other men from the 5th Battalion, including Frederick Butler from Lowestoft, were buried at Harp Redoubt, as were several men from other regiments. In 1919 William, and the other men, were reburied at Tilloy British Cemetery.
William's brother, Charles, served with the Suffolk Regiment, and died in 1918.
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William Aldred
Ellen Cottages
The Street
Blundeston
United Kingdom
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