ALFRED JAMES UPTON 1897–1918
Photograph from the Cutler Collection 1911
Born 17th March 1897, Radcliffe on Trent
Baptised 4th August 1897 at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Radcliffe on Trent
Died 13th October 1918, France. Age 21
Burial Pas-de-Calais, Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, III F6.
Commemorated on Radcliffe on Trent War Memorial
1901 Census
Age four living with his father James, twenty-nine, nursery manager, step-mother Mary Upton, thirty, and uncle Arthur Upton, sixteen, a nursery gardener at The Harlequin Nurseries, Radcliffe on Trent. Alfred’s mother, Amy Maude (neé Eve), had died in 1897.
1911 Census
Age fourteen living with his family at The Harlequin Nurseries, Radcliffe on Trent. The house had six rooms. Alfred had just left school. He had a half-brother, John (Jack) Upton, age seven.
Military Service
Rank: Private. On 13.10.18 Rifleman
Service Number: 53139. On 13.10.18: 83439
Military Unit: 1/7th Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), West Riding Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division. Previously Private 31536, 14th Yorks and Lancs Regiment, then 53139 2/7th West Yorkshire Regiment
Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 26.9.16. Total war service abroad 2 years
Attestation: 16.6.16 Derby. Alfred joined the army 16.6.1916 as a conscript at Derby.
Age 18 years, 336 days. Height 5 ft 5 ins; weight 113 lbs; chest 34½ ins.
Address: The Manvers Arms, (father was landlord).
Occupation: gardener.
26.9. 16: Posted to France. Embarked Folkestone, disembarked Boulogne
13.10.16: Posted to 14th Bn, Yorks and Lancs, service number 31536
16.10.16: Joined Battalion in the Field
14.1.17: Admitted 95 Field Ambulance. Diarrhoea.
18.1.17: Rejoined unit
3.2.17: Awarded 2 days Field Punishment no.2
Note: In Field Punishment Number Two, the prisoner was placed in fetters and handcuffs but was not attached to a fixed object and was still able to march with his unit. This was a relatively tolerable punishment. The soldier was also subjected to hard labour and loss of pay. (Wikipedia)
17.2.17: Admitted 94 Field Ambulance. Scabies
2.1.18 to 16.1.18: Leave
17.2.18: Transferred to West Yorkshire Regiment and posted to 2/7th Battalion. New service number 53139
06.07.18: Battalion disbanded and posted to 1/7 Bn, Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
4.9.18: Gastroenteritis, re-joined Battalion 30.9.1918
Wounded
11.10.18: Chest wounds (penetrating)
13.10.18: Died of wounds,
Next of kin: James Upton (father) who received a 5 shillings (25p) weekly allowance from 3.5.20 according to Pension record card
Total Military Service: June 1916–October 1918
Medals Awarded: British War and Victory
Go to WWI Timeline to see how this man’s death is part of the wider story of the war.
From the War Diary of the 1/7th Battalion Prince of Wales Own West Yorkshire Regiment, 11th October, 1918
The diary entry for the day on which Alfred James Upton was wounded east of Cambrai.
03.50: Battalion in position of assembly along road facing east
05.20: Enemy seen taking up position 300 yards in front on high ground
07.15: Aerial activity – mostly our own
07.30: Intermittent shelling of assembly position
09.00: Zero hour Barrage opened and front line company went over in splendid order, enemy machine guns opened heavy fire
09.15: Front line company over crest of ridge. Prisoners coming in fast
09.20: Many machine guns captured
09.43: Lt Col commanding hit by machine gun bullet in thigh and carried down
09.50: Attack still running well
10.05: Enemy counter attack accompanied by tanks
10.15: Enemy tanks driven off by concentrated Lewis Gun fire
10.30: Enemy retiring
11.00: Front line reinforced but further advance delayed by disorganization and lack of ammunition. Enemy trench mortar captured
11.30: Further advance impossible owing to casualties
12.00 to 19.00 hours heavy enemy shelling and withdrawn to reorganize
Estimate of casualties 11 officers 468 other ranks
View the above extract in the original War Diary
Other information
Father signed acknowledgement of medals, 23.12.1920
Obituary
‘UPTON. Died of wounds on October 13th, Pte. Alfred James Upton, L.G. Section, West Yorks., aged 21, the dearly loved son of Mr. and Mrs. James Upton, of Harlequin Nurseries and Manvers Arms, Radcliffe-on-Trent, and grandson of the late Alfred D. Eve, formerly of Sneinton Elements.’ From the Nottingham Evening Post, 24th October 1918.
Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour
Born and lived in Radcliffe on Trent with parents and relatives.
Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux