Private 30836 Alfred Follos

Died on Thursday, 18th July 1918, age 25.
Buried in Grave V. C. 6. at Valenciennes (St. Roch) Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

2nd/4th Bn., East Lancashire Regiment. 198th Brigade of 66th Division.
Formerly 39366 South Staffs Regiment.

Son of Mrs Rose Emma Follos and the late Mr William Follos, of 8, Holland St., Toll End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/577464/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Alfred Follos registered June quarter 1893 in Dudley.

1901 Census
27a Walker Street, Tipton, Staffs.
William Follos (50, Bricklayer's Labourer, born West Bromwich), his wife Rose Emma (44, born Tipton), and their 7 children: Clara (21, born Tipton), William (17, Rivet Maker, born Tipton), Emily (14, born Tipton), Samuel (11, born Tipton), Alfred (8, born Tipton), Annie (6, born Tipton), and May (3, born Tipton).

1911 Census
27 Walker Street, Tipton, Staffs.
William Follos (60, Puddler, born West Bromwich), his wife Roseanna (55, born Tipton), and their 4 children: William (27, Bolt Maker at Bridge Works, born Tipton), Alfred (18, Iron Turner at Foundry, born Tipton), Annie (15, born Tipton), and May (13, born Tipton).

Personal Data

After Alfred's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £17/2/8d (17 pounds, 2 shillings and 8 pence); this was paid to his mother, Rose Emma, in September 1919. His War Gratuity was £6/0/0d (6 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his mother in September 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Alfred had enlisted in February 1917.

Action resulting in his death

Alfred died in German hands as a Prisioner of War, Valenciennes was in German hands until the 1st/2nd November 1918. Alfred was originally buried in the German Extension of the Valenciennes Communal Cemetery, but in 1922 was exhumed and re-buried in the British Extension to the same cemetery. He was identified by the plate on his coffin.

Although Alfred is recorded as belonging to the 2/4th East Lancs, the 2/4th had been absorbed by the 1/4th East Lancs, and renamed as 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. They still belonged to 198th Brigade of 66th (2nd East Lancs) Division.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.