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14301 9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Alfred Stearns (Recorded as ‘Stearn’ on the original Roll of Honour) was born in 1887 in Acton, Suffolk, one of seven surviving children of Herbert and Alice Stearns. The family lived at Ovens Green, Acton where his father was employed as an agricultural labourer; his mother was a horsehair weaver. At the age of 14 Alfred had followed his father to work on a local farm as a stock feeder.
Alfred enlisted in Sudbury and served with the Suffolk Regiment. He embarked with his battalion and landed in Boulogne at the end of August 1915. He served alongside other Sudbury men including Robert Nunn and Percy Hollingsworth. As part of 24th Division they were located between Etaples and St. Pol before being sent a few days later across France as the reserve for the Battle of Loos
(25 September – 15 October). They saw action on 26 September but suffered heavy losses. The battalion formed part of 71st Brigade and in October transferred to the 6th Division.
Alfred died of wounds on 19 December 1915 age 28 and lies buried in Hop Store Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in October 2014.
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