ALFRED Ireson was a Redditch soldier whose unit felt the full force of the German counter attack at Cambrai 100 years ago.
He was born in 1882, one of Ambrose and Matilda Ireson’s six children.
The family lived on Evesham Road and Ambrose ran the Post Office at Headless Cross.
Alfred became an insurance agent and in 1908 he married his sweetheart Annie, the couple going on to have two children, Dorothy May and Marjorie Ireson.
By the time he was 29 the family were living on Bromfield Road in Coventry, but when war broke out in 1914 Alfred joined up.
He enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment, one of the original recruits, and served with the 7th Battalion.
A description at the time, on August 12, 1914 records: “… the scene for the following fortnight almost baffles description. A depot filled beyond capacity with recruits and more arriving every few hours… all joyfully expecting to be immediately issued with rifle and bayonet and sent to France.”
They finally landed in France at the end of May, 1915 and Alfred would have seen action in several key battles on the Western Front.
By November 30, 1917, his unit, part of 26th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division, was on the southern flank of the British salient at Cambrai, right at the point of the massive – and devastating – German attack which was launched at 7.30am that morning.
By 9am the Germans were three miles beyond where Alfred’s unit had been and reports were coming in of shattered units and stunned officers streaming back in retreat.
It is likely that Alfred was badly wounded in that attack for his death was recorded the following day, Saturday, December 1, 1917.
He is remembered today on the St Luke’s Church (The Bridge) War Memorial on Evesham Road, Headless Cross.
With thanks to Remembering Redditch’s Fallen Heroes,
http://battlefields1418.50megs.com/sussexbattalions.htm
