Pte
Alfred Henry Mears
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1898 |
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Place of birth: Ditchling, Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Ditchling, Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 29874 |
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Enlistment place: Hastings, Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 1st/6th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Hübner Farm, Langemarck, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XII Row: C Grave: 17 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alfred Henry Mears was the son of Lucy Ellen and Alfred Amos Mears. He was born around 1898 in Ditchling, Sussex. Alfred served in the First World War with the 1/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (143rd Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division).
Alfred was killed on 4 October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting positions of the 143rd Brigade ran from Tweed House to Vale House. Half an hour before the attack was due to start, the 5th and 6th Battalions of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment suffered heavy losses in a German attack on the forward positions.
The 6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment took charge of the central section of the attack zone. They first took the German positions to the west of the Stroombeek. After about 200 yards, however, they came under machine-gun and rifle fire from the areas to the right and higher up, as well as from the road in front of York Farm and Winchester Farm. This led to a high number of casualties. Moreover, their own barrage was lifted too quickly. Taking Burns House and Vacher Farm became impossible. The 6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment suffered 27 dead, 41 missing and 160 wounded.
Alfred died at the age of 19. His body was found near Hübner Farm. After the war, Alfred was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Alfred was killed on 4 October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting positions of the 143rd Brigade ran from Tweed House to Vale House. Half an hour before the attack was due to start, the 5th and 6th Battalions of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment suffered heavy losses in a German attack on the forward positions.
The 6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment took charge of the central section of the attack zone. They first took the German positions to the west of the Stroombeek. After about 200 yards, however, they came under machine-gun and rifle fire from the areas to the right and higher up, as well as from the road in front of York Farm and Winchester Farm. This led to a high number of casualties. Moreover, their own barrage was lifted too quickly. Taking Burns House and Vacher Farm became impossible. The 6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment suffered 27 dead, 41 missing and 160 wounded.
Alfred died at the age of 19. His body was found near Hübner Farm. After the war, Alfred was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 5
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1/6 Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2755/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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143 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2754/5). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 114. Sources used |
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War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/463928 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=1f2bc354-bedb-4609-97aa-c36236288741 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2996138 |