Alfred Tom Burden

Story:
Alfred Tom Burden was born in Sherborne Causeway, Motcombe, Dorset, on 27 Feb 1885 and baptised at St. Johns Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3 May 1885 the son of Stephen Burden and Elizabeth Annie Moore Burden (nee Bridle).  He lived his early life in Sherborne Causeway until by 1911 he was living in Durley, Hampshire, working as a Domestic Coachman.   He had enlisted in the Territorial Section of the West Sussex Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver (Service No. 1495) and went on to serve in Mesopotamia during which time he was transferred to the Regular Army (Service No. 850542).  He suffered a fractured leg on 19 Jul 1918 whilst with the 1088th Battery and was transferred to India for treatment later returned to the UK for discharge on 20 Jul 1919.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He married Ellen Augusta Denham in Fareham, Hampshire, during 1919.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 'Beechleigh', Butterwick Road, Wickham, Hampshire, working as a Fruit Grower and Poultry Keeper.  Though details cannot be found, his wife died and Alfred remarried Ena Mitchell Brant (nee Cook) in Droxford, Hampshire, during 1949. In later life he moved to Eastleigh, Hampshire, and died there on 21 Apr 1964.   Of his brothers, Willie George Burden was killed in action whereas Bertie Stephen Burden served and survived.