Elijah Tom Burden Alford

Story:
Elijah Tom Burden Alford was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1877 the son of Samuel Thomas Alford and Rebecca Alford (nee Burden).  He spent all his life apart from Military Service in the Shaftesbury area.   He had enlisted on 15 Jan 1900 with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3499). He had served for a short period in South Africa and was awarded the Queens South African Medal (Clasp Laings Nok, Transvaal) and discharged on 14 Jun 1901. He married Amy Estelle White on 19 May 1902 at Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.  He re-enlisted and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3/8507).  He served in the Balkans area from 16 Oct 1915 and was promoted to Corporal.  He was discharged on 11 Feb 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  The 1921 Census shows him living in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Casing and Sausage Maker for C. G. Prideaux of Motcombe. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Stoker in a Food Factory.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1950.   His brother, Joseph Alford, also served in the conflict.