Worcestershire War Memorial Bike Rides - Day 5

On the final day of his Memorial Bike Ride, David Waite rode for 60 miles for the Worcestershire World War One Hundred Ride.

David commented on the last day of his ride: "For me, it has been an interesting experience coming across so many different types of War memorials, in some unexpected locations. But ultimately it all comes down to local communities remembering the sacrifice of the men from their villages. To sum it up - We Will Remember Them."

Church Lench

Inkberrow

Flyford Flavell

Bishampton

The War Memorial at Bishampton is one of approximately 13 memorials that also commemorates those who returned alive from the conflict.

Throckmorton

Wyre Piddle

The research team at Remember the Fallen identified the following soldier who died on this date, in 1915, the final date for the Memorial Bike Ride.

Stourport War Memorial – BURTON Alfred

Alfred Leonard Burton was born at Stourport in 1887, one of 13 children of Alfred and Harriet Burton. He enlisted as Private 7809 in the King's Royal Rifle Corps on 1st January 1907 when he gave his age as 19 years 11 months and his occupation as a Carpet Weaver. At the time of his enlistment, Alfred was 5 feet 4 inches tall with blue eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 13th July 1910 and after serving in several overseas locations, he was transferred to the Army Reserve on 9th February 1914.

After the outbreak of war in August 1914, as a reservist he was called up and posted overseas to France on 31st August 1914. Two months later on 29th October 1914 he was wounded in action and spent several weeks in hospital in Rouen, France before being discharged as fit for duty. Alfred’s service papers record that he was promoted to Corporal on 7th April 1915. He was killed in action aged 28 just over 4 weeks later; he is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France, Panel 32 and 33. Alfred was awarded the 1914 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

The following information has been researched by Adrian Carter and is a summary of reports in the Kidderminster Shuttle, 17th July 1915 and the Kidderminster Times, 24th July 1915:

Alfred served eight years in King's Royal Rifle Corps, in India, Malta and Crete. Before joining the army he was employed at the Textile Island Mills. When on the reserve he worked in Wales for about seven months, but was called up on the outbreak of war. Wounded in October 1914 by shrapnel, he was in hospital at Le Havre for seven weeks. He was sent back to base for a time and afterwards to the front where he assisted in taking Hill 60. It is believed Alfred met his death on the 9th May when the King's Royal Rifles were called out to support the Canadians. He was serving in No. 9 Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion. He has two brothers in France: Frank is serving with the 7th Worcestershires and Charles is serving with the 2nd/7th Worcestershires.

An obituary for Alfred Leonard Burton appears in the Stourport Parish Magazine for February 1917.