12540 Private Alfred Frederick Weston
9th(Service)Battalion
Devonshire Regiment
1st July 1916
Born in London in 1896.He was baptised on 19/02/1905.
His parents were Walter William Weston(born 27/10/1868) and Charlotte Sophia Arnold(21/11/1869-1927).
They were married on 27/10/1889.
Alfred had 2 brothers; Walter James William(born on 17/03/1892) and
Edmund Thomas(01/1101897-1934). He also had a sister,
Charlotte Frances(26/09/1890/1983).
In the 1901 census, the family were recorded as living at
16 Chatsworth Road, West Ham, London. Alfred's father was employed as an railway engine driver for G.E.R.
In the 1911 census, it showed that the family were now living at 90 Maryland Road,Stratford,West Ham ,Essex.
Alfred was employed as a coach painter for G.E.R. and his father was still an engine driver.
He enlisted in London and his disembarkation into France was on 27/07/1915. He was killed in action on 01/07/1916.
At the time of his death the family were now living at
85 Millins Road,Leytonstone, London.
He was awarded the 1914-1915 star,
the 1914-1918 British War and the Allied victory medals.
Alfred was servant to Lieutenant W.N.Hodgson and both were killed together by machine gun fire.
Hodgson had written earlier in the year (1916) about Alfred. “He is my servant and if he were Commander- in - Chief the war would be over in a week, but I should get no baths so I’m glad he isn’t.” Pearson (an alias for Alfred) could manage anything… There are many like him, I am sure, but I prefer to think of him as supreme.”*
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* Before Action by Charlotte Zeepvat. Page 200.