Alfred Fell

Alfred Fell was born in Wilford in 1887 and was the son of Reuben an iron moulder and Eva Elizabeth Fell, née Keeble, of 29 Briar Street, Meadows Nottingham. His father Reuben Fell was born in 1852 at Manchester, he was married twice before marrying Alfred's mother Eva Keeble (b1855 Colchester, Essex) n 1880 in Nottingham. They went on to have the following children, all of whom were born in Nottingham, Annie b1881,, John b1883, Frank b1885, Alfred b1887, Eleanor b1890, Emma b1892, Cissie b1896 and Eva b1899. By the 1911 census Alfred has left the family home and has joined the Army, we find him shown as being 23 yrs of age, single and a Private with the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters in barracks in India. In the same 1911 census we find his family living at 29 Briar Street, Meadows, Nottingham and are shown as Reuben 59 yrs a jobbing iron moulder, he is living with his wife Eva 56 yrs and their children, Frank 26 yrs a baker and confectioner, Eleanor 21 yrs a blouse machinist, Emma 19 yrs a blouse machinist, Cissie 15 yrs an ironer and Eva 12 yrs. He left the Army in 1912/1913 and became a postman living in Sheffield he met and married his wife Rosina Leese ( a native of Stoke-on-Trent) in 1913 their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District they had a daughter Marjorie Fell born 1914 in Nottingham and on 6th March 1916 a son Alfred Ernest the birth was registered in the Wolstanton District, Staffordshire. Alfred's son Alfred Ernest was conceived just prior to his embarkation for Gallipoli and was born shortly after his death, he never saw his son. "The pain she (Rosina his widow ) must have suffered in the circumstance of giving birth to their son 7 months after conceiving must have been horrendous - but it never showed to her grandchildren. As previously stated as children my sister and I had no information about our grand-father: it has to be concluded that our Grand-mother found it impossible to allow any conversation on the subject of her tragic loss." (source grandson Roger Fell) His widow returned to Nottingham following his death and lived at 41 Briar Street, Meadows.

In 1911 he was serving with 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters India. After serving his time in the Army and leaving he became a postman at Rotherham before being mobilised for war.

Lance Sergeant Alfred Fell was a reservist in 1914 having previous service with the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters in India. He was mobilised at the outbreak of war into the 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters He was an 'Old Contemptible' who went to France on 8th September 1914 landing at St Nazaire, he returned to England and was then transferred to the 9th Battalion. The 9th battalion sailed from Liverpool at the end of June 1915 and via Mudros landed at Lala Baba, Sulva Bay, Gallipoli on 6th/7th August 1915. It was during one of the most disastrous battles of the Gallipolli campaign on 9th August 1915 that he was killed in action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles memorial.

Lance Sergeant Alfred Fell 9758 - Military History / Timeline From the evidence of Army Number appears to have joined Sherwood Foresters 2nd Bn in January / February 1905. 1906 2nd Bn located Bangalore, India 1909 2nd Bn located Secunderabad, India 1912/13 – Demobbed. Becomes postman / Sheffield 1914 July / August: Called up as Reservist into 9th Bn Sherwood Foresters. 1914 : Letters posted at Cambridge Aug 23 and 27. Newmarket – Sept 7th. 1914: 2nd Bn lands in France at St Nazaire 08 Sep 1914, 9 Oct entrained to St Omer – billeted at Arques then into Vieux Berquin area 12 Oct 1914. 1914: Letters Sept 30 > Oct 8 postmarked France: October 11 postmarked Arques, France. 1914: 20 Oct major offensive by Germans with significant casualties. 1914: Oct 28 – Letter from Aldershot – in hospital after being wounded 1914: December – Has relocated to Crownhill / Plymouth 1915: Letters postmarked Plymouth between March 4 and unknown date. 1915: April 13 > June 24 – Letters postmarked Frensham / Surrey. 1915: July – Embarkation via Liverpool to Dardanelles: letter postmarked “Mediterranean) dated 19 July. 1915: KIA - 9 Aug 1915 1915: Letter dated / postmarked 17 Sep 15 from Sgt J J Marsh sent to Rosina with Alfred’s effects and letters enclosed. Below is an extract taken from the personal diary of Lieut Col Scothorn written during the Gallipoli campaign. 1915 At dawn on August 9th orders were received to move forward, the formation adopted was one of two lines about 200 to 300 yards apart 'A' and ' B' companies forming the front one and 'C' and 'D' in the rear, the machine gun section was extended between the two lines. After advancing about 1,000 yards the battalion encountered heavy fire and suffered many casualties. From this point the advance was carried on by section rushes. Eventually the advance was held up on the right and in the centre near the orchard in the vicinity of the Hetman Char. It was impossible to progress from here. The majority of officers had become casualties by 7am. However the battalion held onto the line until about 6pm. when the Turks tried to envelope the right. Lt.-Col. Bosanquet came up to the orchard and gave orders to withdraw the line 100 yards or so in the rear, and was wounded through the wrist whilst there, Major Blackburn taking over command. At the end of the day there had been 19 officers casualties and about 300 men. Nottingham Evening Post, 9 August 1916: ‘Fell. In loving memory of Lance-Serjt A Fell 9th Sherwood Foresters, who fell in action August 9th 1915. Devoted husband, a faithful friend, one of the best that God could send; he nobly answered duty’s call, his life he gave for one and all; but the unknown grave is the bitterest blow, none but an aching heart can know. Sadly missed by his loving wife and children.’ (Source: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)