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5847 1st/21st Battalion, London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles)
Alfred Hills was born in 1891 in Great Cornard, one of ten surviving children of Abel Frederick (known as Frederick) and Elizabeth Sophia Hills. His father was a carman for a local foundry and the family lived in Great Cornard before moving to Coronation Villa, Queens Road, Sudbury. At the age of 20 Alfred was employed as a grocer’s assistant.
He married Kate Twinn early 1916 and they were living in Romford when he enlisted to serve with the London Regiment.
In May 1915 Alfred’s battalion became part of 142nd Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division. In the summer of 1916 the Division saw action during the third phase of the Battle of the Somme at the Battle of Flers-Courceltte (15 – 22 September) when the Allies used their new secret weapon: the tank for the first time. Led by tanks the villages of Martinpuich, Flers and Courcelette were taken by the Allies and the 47th Division successfully captured High Wood but the Allies and Germans suffered heavy losses one of which was Alfred.
Alfred was killed in action aged 24 on 15 September 1916. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Thiepval Memorial in April 2006, 2007 and April 2009.
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