Alfred Atkins 1896 – 1916
Alfred’s birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1896, in the Chertsey district of Surrey, and he was the fourth child and second son of parents Charles Horace and Emily (née Smith).
The 1901 Census showed that the family was living in Lyne, near Chertsey, where Charles was working as a farm labourer. Alfred’s birthplace was given as Lyne.
By 1911, Charles was a farm bailiff, and the family were living at The Bungalow, Kingston near Chertsey. Alfred was employed as a horseman on a farm at the age of 15. At some point between here and 1917, Charles moved the family to Long Lane Farm in Shepherdswell, where he is shown in local directories between 1917-1920.
Although records for Alfred have not been found to date, it is known that he was living in Addington in Surrey when he enlisted at Croydon with the original service no. 5762 in the Lancers of the Line. The Lancers of the Line were not a regiment but a general repository for all calvary men enlisted to lancer regiments, as opposed to hussars or dragoons. He subsequently was given the no. 10499, and served in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers.
He was killed in action on 24th August 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.