Lieutenant Alfred Thomas Penketh
1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 1883
Place of Birth: Lichfield , Staffordshire
Date of Death: 12 May 1917 aged 34
Buried: Remembered on Arras Memorial; and Market Harborough Memorial, Leicester.
Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Lieutenant Alfred Thomas Penketh age 34. Born in Lichfield in 1883, he was the eldest son of Major James and Kate Ellen Penketh (nee Ffrench); his father was a serving soldier with the South Staffordshire Regiment.
He attended Lichfield Grammar School. The 1901 census records for 38/64 Regimental Depot, Whittington Heath, Near Lichfield, Staffs, show Alfred living with his family and working as a bank clerk.
The 1911 census shows him living at Cheshunt, Clovelly Road, Bideford; he is a boarder, single and working as a bank clerk with the National Provincial Bank.
His parents later moved and retired to 'Edgcumbe', Higher Brimley, Teignmouth.
South Staffordshire Regiment
Cap Badge
He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant with the Infantry on 1 April 1915, he served with 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment.
The War Diary for the regiment shows that the battalion attacked the village of Bullecourt in the early hours of 12 May and during this action Alfred was killed on 12 May 1917.
Remembered on Arras Memorial; and Market Harborough Memorial, Leicester.
One of four brothers serving, his younger brother Robert Charles Penketh died of wounds in the previous month and the third son, 2nd Lieutenant Albert Edward, was serving with 6th Battalion, North Staffs Regiment.
His father applied for his medals in 1920. Probate was granted to his father, James, in July 1917 for effects totalling £390.1s.5d.
