On 27th April
1917, the Lynn Advertiser published a simple resume of his life and accompanied his obituary with the photo that appears on
this web page:
“THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – It is with regret that the villagers have heard that another of their youths has
given his life for King and country, and the greatest sympathy is expressed by all to Mr. and Mrs. J. Bird in the loss at
the early age of 20 of their third [sic] son, Alfred, who has fallen in the great attack being made in France. The news was
conveyed to the parents in a letter from the commanding officer of his squadron, who testified to the great esteem in which
Alfred was held, his conspicuous conduct as a soldier, and further that he was killed by a shell when attacking on 11th April.
Alfred was born at Heacham and he will always be remembered at the school as a bright successful pupil. He was a general favourite
with teachers and children and soon after leaving school he joined his elder brother, Harry, in service at Chailey (Sussex).
On the outbreak of war he joined up in September, 1914, at Brighton, in the Lancers. He went
into training at Canterbury where for a time he was a typist
in the Records Office. In January, 1916, he was transferred to the Dragoon Guards and was sent to France and stayed there, without leave, since. He took part in the great attack
on the Somme front last summer and escaped scathless. A good horseman he attained conspicuous
success and while at a seaside rest-camp last autumn in France
won the first prizes for high jump and tent-pegging in the equestrian sports. Two other brothers are in the army; Harry is
in France with the Lancers, and brother John is in Mesopotamia
with the Norfolks.”
The circumstances of Alfred’s death are as follows:
As part of the preparations for the Battle of Arras the 3rd Cavalry Division was moved forward ready to support the
infantry. One of the division’s units was the 3rd Dragoon Guards and the regiment arrived at the east side of Arras in the early evening of 9 April 1917 - the infantry having advanced
at 7.30 a.m. and quickly taken the first German trenches.
On the morning of the 10th the 3rd Dragoons moved forward to a position near the village of Tilloy-les-Mofflaines and patrols
were sent forward to ascertain the situation. Men of the regiment were also detailed to construct crossing points across the
old German front line trenches to enable the cavalry to advance unhindered. A subsequent move further forward drew enemy artillery
fire and so they withdrew back nearer to Arras that night.
Early on the morning of 11 April the cavalry stood to and initially moved forward to the positions they had occupied
the previous afternoon, where they awaited news on the infantry advance. By 8.30 a.m. reports began to come in that the village of Monchy-le-Preux
had been captured and they were ordered to advance across the open ground to reinforce the hard-pressed infantry. The Essex
Yeomanry and 10th Hussars of the 8th Cavalry Brigade advanced to the north of Monchy-le-Preux and after coming under heavy
machine gun fire from their flank they wheeled, in accordance with their orders, southward and into the village. There they
were subjected to a very heavy German artillery bombardment that caused tremendous casualties, especially among the horses,
and also their commander, Brigadier-General Bulkeley-Johnson who was killed by a sniper while dismounted and assessing the
situation on the north of the village.
Meanwhile on their right flank the 3rd Dragoon Guards had simultaneously advanced with B Squadron leading the gallop
for the 2,000 yards towards their objective, the road that ran due south from Monchy-le-Preux for about 1,000 yards to the
junction with the Arras – Cambrai Road. B Squadron arrived at the road at about 9.25 a.m. and C Squadron arrived
a few minutes later. A Squadron and the HQ, plus two guns of the Royal Field Artillery, had taken up a position about two
thirds of the way to the road and the guns came into immediate action at 9.30 a.m. Further guns arrived about 45 minutes later
and also came into action.
As soon as each of the elements of the 3rd Dragoons had left the shelter of a slight rise they came into the enemy’s
view and were subjected to German artillery fire. As he was reported to have been killed by shellfire it is most likely that
Alfred and his horse were hit during the gallop across the open ground west of Monchy-le-Preux. He was 20 years old. After
the battle the 3rd Dragoon Guards initially reported their casualties as one Officer and 19 Other Ranks (ORs) killed, and
three Officers and 72 ORs wounded or missing; one of the missing officers was later confirmed dead and at least four ORs died
of their wounds. 196 horses were also killed or wounded.
It is not known whether Alfred Bird was buried nearby, but if so his grave was lost in later fighting. His name is
therefore listed on Panel 1 of the Arras Memorial to the Missing (above). He is also commemorated on the Chailey War Memorial,
the Heacham War Memorial, a brass plaque in Heacham church, and a Roll of Honour in the Heacham Village Hall. The Bird family
also commemorated him on his brother Charles’ headstone at Heacham.
Sources & Acknowledgements
- 1901 Census of England & Wales
- Chailey Parish Magazine
- East Sussex News
- Soldiers Died in The Great War
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Debt of Honour Register
- I am indebted to Alfred Bird's great nephew, Derek Bird, for contacting me and providing me
with additional information about Alfred and Harry Bird and Charles Jenner. I have quoted extensively from the information he supplied including his concise
account of the 3rd Dragoons at Arras which I have reproduced
here in full
- Garth McGowen for the photograph of Alfred Bird's name on the Arras Memorial
