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292122 10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
696694 Eastern Command Labour Centre, Labour Corps
Alfred Hartley was born in 1889 in Great Cornard, one of five children of Henry (Harry) and Ellen Priscilla Hartley. The family lived in Newton Road and his father was a binder/mat trimmer at a cocoa matting factory. After Alfred’s mother died his father married Gertrude Brown in 1896 and the family moved to 13 Oliver’s Yard, Sudbury. Alfred was at one time employed as a general labourer.
He first served in France on 9 November 1914, which indicates that he was probably a regular soldier or a reservist. It is not known which unit he served with as the 10th Battalion did not land in France until September 1915, however the 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment landed in France in November 1914.
Alfred was back on the Home Front between 21 August 1916 and 18 June 1917 when he embarked for France again until 23 November 1917. It is possible that he was suffering from poor health or had been wounded at that time.
He was discharged from the Cheshire Regiment on 29 January 1918 as no longer physically fit; however he re-enlisted with the Labour Corps on 31 May 1919 and was passed as fit to serve. His service record describes him as being 5ft 9 ins in height with 35 inch chest and weighing 175lbs. He had grey eyes and dark brown hair with a fresh complexion.
Alfred was discharged in 1921 and his address is shown as 5 Walnuttree Lane. His service record shows that a disability code 25 was awarded, however he never received any disability pension as he had died before it had been officially granted.
Alfred died aged 31 on 19 May 1921 and was buried on 24 May in Sudbury Cemetery (Plot RR 234). A report in the Suffolk and Essex Free Press of his death quotes ‘the end is peace’.
Alfred was awarded the 1914 Star and Clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The clasp "5TH AUG - 22ND NOV 1914" was awarded with the 1914 Star for any soldier who came under enemy fire or within range of enemy mobile artillery in France or Belgium between those dates. This was to differentiate between those who were also serving in France or Belgium but behind the lines.
A Cross of Remembrance is laid by his grave each year at Remembrancetide.
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