Herbert Alford

Story:
Herbert was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 28th August 1890, the son of Sidney Herbert Alford and Clara Jane Alford (née Marshall).  He lived with his family in The Street, Motcombe.  By 1911 he was boarding in Kinson, Wallis Down, Dorset, where he married Elsie Mary Maud Williams at St. Andrews Church, Kinson, on 5th June 1911.  There were three children of the marriage.  He enlisted on 9th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 12th April 1916 when he joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 17410).  He served in France and Flanders from 26 Jul 1916 and Whilst serving at Guillemont, France, he received a Shell Shrapnel Wound in the left foot on 3th September 1916.  He was repatriated to the UK on 9th September 1916, at the same time transferring to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 31636).  He was admitted to the B178 Military Hospital on 10th September 1916 where he remained until 5th January 1917.  The medical report after his recovery indicated that his foot was now deformed and pieces of shrapnel remained embedded.  He was declared unfit for further service and discharged with a limited period pension on 16th March 1917.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as Silver War Badge No. 145625.  The 1921 Census shows him living in Canford Road, Kinson, Bournemouth, working as a Firewood Merchant.  By the 1939 Register he moved to Sunny Mead, Axbridge, Somerset, working as a gardener.  According to family records he died during 1954 in the Devizes, Wiltshire, area. Of his brothers, James Alford and Bertie Alford, both served and survived the conflict.