Frederick George Thomas Alford

Story:
Frederick George Thomas Alford (known as 'Fred') was born in Shaftesbury on 8th October 1897 and baptised at St. James' Church on 31st October 1897, the son of Samuel George Alford and Eliza Jane Alford (née Oborne).  At the time of his baptism the family were living in Tanyard Lane, but by 1901, they had moved to French Mill Lane.  In the 1911 Census Frederick was living with his grandfather, also called Samuel Alford, at 15 St. James Street. Frederick enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 23666).  He served with both the 1st and 2nd Battalions in France and Flanders but was captured near 'Vault, (thought to be Mainvault, Nr. Mons) on 24th March 1918 and spent time in the Prisoner of War camp at Parchim, near Hamburg in Germany.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  He remained in the Army and at the time of the 1921 Census was based at the HQ China Command in Hong Kong. On his return to the UK he married Violet Irene Bessie Stacey at Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1925.  By the 1939 Register he was living at 'Inglenook', St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Fish Merchant (Retired).  He died on 6th September 1982 per the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry and was buried on 10th September 1982.  It is noted both his father, Samuel George Alford, and his brother, Thomas Henry Alford, served in the war albeit Thomas joined the Royal Navy right at the end of the conflict.