In Memory of
Private A ELSE
2133, 5th Bn, Sherwood Foresters
(Notts and Derby Regiment)
who died
on 01 July 1916
Remembered with honour
FONCQUEVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY
Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commision
No personal photo available.
Anyone with a photo
please contact 
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Alfred ELSE 1898-1916
Alfred Else enlisted with the Sherwood Foresters 5th Batallion 3 months
before his country declared war against Germany. His Service number was 2133.
Only 17 years old, small of stature, his vision was good. He became a coal
miner at Belper, his father William had been a limestone quarryman. His
father and mother both died when Alfred was only 7. The large family of
6 boys and 6 girls split up from their home in The Dale in the centre of
Wirksworth, and Alfred and a younger brother were adopted by his mother's
family living nearby in Bowling Green Lane.
Alfred was sent to fight in France in March 1915, and may have been wounded
as he was sent home for 10 months May 1915 to March 1916. He received the
1914-15 Star. He was killed in action on 1 Jul 1916, in the attack on the
Gommecourt salient, aged 18 years and 6 months.
He is remembered in the Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, Foncquevillers
is a village about 18 kilometres south-west of Arras on the D3. In 1915 and
1916 the Allied front line ran between Foncquevillers and Gommecourt.
The burials in July 1916 (particularly in Plot I, Row L) are especially
numerous, Alfred is at I.L.39.
1857 1860
William 1876 Emma
ELSE=====v=====HOUGHTON
1905 | 1905
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1877 1880 1880 1883 1885 1887 1892 1895 1898 1898 1899 1901
Louisa Job William Florence Mary Emily John Emma Lucy Alfred Samuel Harold
1953 Henry Hannah James Annie
1898
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X633a
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ATTESTATION form E501, 22 May 1914
4 years Service
Alfred Else of Wirksworth, British Subject
17 years 7 months, Collier
Employed by Denby Iron & Coal Co,
67 Nottingham Rd, Belper
Deceased 1915
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X633b
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MEDICAL INSPECTION REPORT, 28 May 1914
Age 17 years 7 months, Height 5ft 3.5ins
Chest 34 inches, expansion 2.25 inches
Vision: Good, Development: Good
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X633d
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MILITARY HISTORY SHEET
Belper 22-5-14 to 18-2-15
Copy 1-3-15 to 6-5-15
Home 7-5-15 to 2-3-16
France 3-5-16 to 1-7-16
Campaigns
Home 5-5-14 to 28-2-15
Expdy Force France 1-3-15 to 6-5-15
Home 7-5-15 to 2-3-16
Ex Force France 3-5-16 to 1-7-16
Medals
1914-15 Star
Next of Kin
Brother William Else, North End, Wirksworth
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X633f
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STATEMENT of the SERVICES of 2133 Alfred Else
Attested 22-5-14
Embodied Service 5-8-14 to 1-7-16
Admin Centre 7-5-15
Attached 28-6-15
Posted from 21-1-16
Transferred from 3-3-16
Killed in Action 1-7-16
Date of Discharge 1-7-16 2 years 43 days
Lichfield 25 Jul 1916
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1911 Census for 13 Bowling Green Lane Wirksworth
HOUGHTON, John Henry Head Married M 48 1863 Quarryman Derbys Wirksworth
HOUGHTON, Mary Jane Wife Married 29 years F 48 1863 Warwick Boddington
HOUGHTON, Harry Son Single M 25 1886 Quarryman Derbys Wirksworth
HOUGHTON, William Son Single M 21 1890 Derbys Wirksworth
ELSE, Alfred Adopted Child M 13 1898 Errand Boy Derbys Wirksworth
ELSE, Samuel Adopted Child M 12 1899 School Derbys Wirksworth
1901 Census,
1891,
1881,
1871, and
1861
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