Alfred was born in 1886 in  St. Phillips area of Bristol, one of several brothers and sisters.

I was saddened to learn that Alfred was shot at dawn and it was NOT deserved in my opinion because he did fight for our country and was wounded in the process.

Alfred served with the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry.

Only after a month on the front he was wounded in his right eye. Very soon he was back in action and gassed and hospitalised with shell shock. Again he was back in the thick of it at the Battle of the Somme with thousands of casualties.

Not a well man and in all probability disorientated, he sought to get away and was arrested attempting to catch a ferry back to England.

Alfred was court martialled and sentenced to death.  It appears that the High Command were keen to make an example of him.

To top it all, whilst he awaited his fate, one of his brothers - Arthur, was killed in action.

He was one of about 3000 who 'deserted' but only 350 were shot at dawn.

Campaigners argued that they had all been subjects of rough justice and in 2006 you all received a posthumous pardon by the Secretary of State for Defence.

On 1st November 2016 - 100 years to the day on which you died, a commemoration and wreath laying service was held at Dings Park, Bristol (near from whence he came) to remember Alfred and Arthur and all the other victims of the Battle of the Somme.

Alfred and Arthur's great great Nephew travelled from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and laid a wreath.

Dawn Thomas