Private Alfred Joseph Warne
2nd Battalion, Worcester Regiment
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 1884
Place of Birth: Totnes, Devon
Date of Death: 14 April 1918 aged 34
Buried: Remembered on Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium; and Totnes War Memorial.
Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Private Alfred Joseph Warne age 34.
Born 1884 in Totnes the son of James (a general labourer and Royal Naval Reserve), and Mary Warne. The 1891 census showed him with his parents and his siblings (William, Mary and Joseph) at 47, High Street, Totnes.
He was still there in 1901 working as a baker's errand boy; his father is now a widower. In 1911 he was listed as a boarder at High Street, Totnes and working as a sweet maker.
Alfred married Frances Ellen Shepherd in Paignton Church on 1 November 1913; they had one daughter in 1915 and were living at Second Avenue, Bitton, Teignmouth.
Cap Badge of the Worcestershire Regiment. (other ranks) WW1 © IWM (INS 5704)
He attested at Torquay on 9 December 1915 with the Army Reserve, and was mobilized on 16 June 1916 being posted the following day to 6th Battalion Worcester Regiment, service number 48838.
Alfred was serving with 2nd Battalion, Worcester Regiment, when they encountered fierce fighting at the Battle of Bailleul where the majority of the battalion were killed or injured.
He was killed in action on 14 April 1918. Remembered on Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium; and Totnes War Memorial.
A war gratuity of £8 and 10 shillings was paid to his wife.
WW1 Recruits having their service uniforms fitted. © IWM (Q 30060)
2nd Battalion Worcester Regiment at Neuve-Église
Enemy on all sides.
Sorties made from HQ were successful in driving the enemy away and opening up a way for communications.
There were many casualties from trench mortars and machine guns.
Extract from the Battalion war diary
14th April, 1918
