Samuel George Alford

Story:
Samuel George Alford was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1875 and baptised there on 27th February 1875, the son of Samuel George Alford and Martha Alford (née Hillier).  Samuel lived most of his life, apart from military service, in and around Shaftesbury.  At one time he was living at the Kings Arms Inn where his father was the licensee.  He married Eliza Jane Oborne in 1895 in Shaftesbury and they went on to have seven children.  Samuel joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 168964) and at one time was with the 'A' Company Railway Troop.  No medal records have been found in this case.  The 1921 Census shows he was living at 33a St. James Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Fish Hawker. Regrettably he died in 1932 in Shaftesbury, and was buried at St. James Church on 21 Sep 1932.  It is noted that his sons, Frederick George Thomas Alford, also served in the war, with the Wiltshire Regiment, and spent time as a Prisoner of War in Germany and Thomas Henry Alford joined the Royal Navy towards the end of the war and served until 1931.