Alfred Harold Fry

Alfred Harold was born in 1893 in Stratford upon Avon and was the youngest son of the Rev. Francis Joseph Fry and Mary Jane Fry née Rowe, of 37 West Road, Lancaster. His father Francis was born in 1862 in Bristol and his mother was born in 1857 also in Bristol, they were married in 1885 in Bristol they went on to have 6 children sadly 1 died in infancy , their children were all born in Stratford upon Avon (except eldest Francis who was born in Puriton Somerset) their children were Francis Herbert b1886, Walter b1889, Thomas George b1891, Frederick Arthur b1892, Alfred Harold b1894 and Lilian Mary b1896. In the 1901 census the family are living at 100 Noel Street, Hyson Green. In the 1911 census they are living at 26 Windsor Road, Levenshulme, Manchester and are shown as Francis 49 yrs a congregational minister, he is living with his wife Mary Jane 54 yrs and their children Frederick Arthur 19 yrs an insurance clerk, Alfred Harold 17 yrs an insurance clerk, and Mary Irene 9 yrs , their adopted daughter.

Educated at High Pavement School, Nottingham. Was a Clerk, Manchester Branch Scottish Widows Fund.

Private Alfred Harold Fry, enlisted in 1911 in Manchester , he saw service in Egypt and served with the 1/6th Battalion Manchester Regiment, he was killed in action on 2nd June 1915 in Gallipoli. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.

His brother Sapper Walter Charles Fry enlisted in 1910 and served with the 15th Company, Royal Engineers. He was stationed in Gibralter from 1912 until 1914 and went to France in November 1914. He was killed in action on 23rd October 1916 by an exploding shell and although he was buried near the front line trenches he grave was subsequently lost and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Article published 28th June 1915 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- “Former Nottingham Minister's Son Killed at the Dardanelles. “News has been received of the death in action at the Dardanelles on June 2nd of Private Alfred Harold Fry, youngest son of the Rev. F. J. Fry, who was for twelve years minister of the Boulevard Congregational Church, Nottingham, and who is now at Lancaster. “Private Fry, who was 22 years of age last month, was shot through the head, and died instantly. He was buried behind the trenches, and a simple cross was erected about the grave by his comrades of the 6th Manchesters, with whom he went out to Egypt in August last. Private Fry was a favourite amongst the men of the battalion by reason of his cheery spirits and his devotion to duty. “Mr. Fry has another son, Walter, in the army in France, and according to the latest news received from him he is quite well.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918