Alfred was born in Little Horton, Bradford, in 1880, the third of five children of builder and joiner Benjamin Priestley and his wife Maria. The family were still in Little Horton at the time of the 1901 census but Alfred got married to Christina in 1907 and they set up home in Windhill. That’s where they were living at the time of the 1911 census with two children, Evelyn aged 2 and Benjamin aged 3 months. Although Alfred is given as a mason in 1901 and in his military record, the 1911 census gives him as a tram conductor. On 29 March 1918, the Shipley Times & Express reported: Mrs Priestley of 3 Fairbank Street, Windhill, received notification on Saturday from the chaplain and an officer of the death on 15th March of her husband, L Cpl A Priestley, Royal Engineers. He was 38 years of age, was a mason and worked at Bankfoot previous to enlisting three years ago. He has been at the front over two years and was the son of Mrs B Priestley, of Dover Street, Otley Road, Bradford. L Cpl Priestley also leaves two children and his name is on the Windhill Parish Church roll of honour.