Born: 1897, Calverley
Died: 22 October 1915
Buried: Ferme-Olivier Cemetery
Address: The Wickets, 12 Towngate, Calverley
Parents: Cllr James Henry & Isabella
Spouse:
Siblings: Elsie & Kathleen Elizabeth
Occupation: John Walton & Son
Organisations/clubs: Church Lads Brigade
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour:
Children:
Regiment: West Yorkshire
Alfred Clifford Lord
Cllr and Mrs H Lord, the
Wicket, Calverley heard
that their only son, Pte
Alfred Clifford Lord, of
1/6 West Yorks had been
killed in action on night of
22 October.
Pte Lord joined the
colours in the first
fortnight of the war. He
had been out at the front
for eight months and had
been wounded on two occasions
prior to receiving the wounds from
which he died.
He was born in Calverley and
attended the Parish Church School.
For several years he was a chorister
at the Parish Church.
After leaving school he worked in
the employ of Messrs John Walton
and Son, until the time of
enlistment and was held in high
esteem by his fellow employees.
He took an active part in the
Church Lads Brigade and the
Sunday School cricket and football
clubs.
He was highly respected by all of
his numerous associates and
profound regret was felt throughout
the village when the sad
news of his death became
known. Flags were
hoisted half mast at the
Parish Church, the
Conservative Club and
Messrs J Walton and
Sons. He was only 18
years of age.
The news arrived in a
letter from Lieut W N
Mossop who says that Pte
Lord was wounded on the night of
October 22nd and died a few hours
later in hospital.
Wounded
‘He was wounded while digging in
the trenches and I understand that
he never regained consciousness so
that we must be thankful that he
suffered no pain.
‘We shall all miss him very much
indeed as he was always most
cheerful and willing. On behalf of
myself and my men I wish to
convey to you our most sincere
sympathy in the sad loss you have
sustained.
‘It may perhaps be some
consolation to you to know that
your son was a good soldier –
always punctilious in the
performance of his duties – and that
he died, not only in the cause of his
King and country, but in the
greatest cause of all – the cause of
humanity.’
Gallant soldier
Capt R A Fawcett wrote: ‘Your son
was shot last night in doing a very
dangerous bit of work. He could
feel no pain as he became
unconscious immediately.
‘Everything was done for him that
could be done but he died before he
reached the ambulance. Your loss is
our loss for he was a very gallant
soldier indeed, feared
nothing and was always
cheerful, helping others to
be the same.’
A letter expressing
sympathy was read from
Messrs J Walton and Son
and the following was also
read: ‘On behalf of the
weavers, tuners and other
workers in the shed, please
accept our sincere
sympathy with you in the
loss you have sustained by the
death of your son Alfred.
‘His death in action is a proof of his
devotion to his country and it only
reflects what his devotion to his
work would have been had
circumstances been more
favourable.
‘He was well liked by all his
fellow-workers and his place will
be vacant in our minds for a long
time to come.
‘We trust that you be somewhat
comforted by knowing that your
son enjoyed the confidence of us
all. We are on behalf of the Lydgate
Mills Weaving Shed Workers,
Louis P Busfield, F Claude
Busfield, H Gilbert
Marshall, Alf Womersley,
George Grimshaw.
Shipley Times & Express
29-10-1915
The following week, the
newspaper reported that the
Church Lads’ Brigade held
a special church parade and
sounded the Last Post in
honour of Alfred
I am grateful to Leon Kamps for sending me the photo of Alfred’s headstone in Belgium