Private 97482 Alfred Pinchers

Died of Wounds Home on Friday, 4th July 1919, age 20.
Buried in Grave A "C" 434 "Special Memorial" at Tipton Cemetery, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.

2nd Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regt.). 71st Brigade of 6th Division.

Son of Mrs Joyce Ann Barnes (previously Pinchers), of 34 Tividale Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Dudley Port, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 13th February 1918.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

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/395355/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Alfred Pinchers registered March quarter 1899 in Dudley.

1901 Census
yet to find.

Alfred's father, Thomas Pinchers (recorded as Pinches) died in 1905. In 1907, Alfred's mother, Joyce Ann Pinchers, married George Henry Barnes.

1911 Census
6 Gilbert Street, Burnt Tree, Tipton, Staffs.
George Henry Barnes (40, 'Heaver-Over' at Iron Works, born Tipton), his wife Joyce Ann (38, born Tipton), and Joyce's 3 surviving children of 7 from her first marriage: Alfred Pincher (11, born Tipton), Ernest Pincher (10, born Tipton), and William Pincher (5, born Tipton).

Death of Alfred E. Pinchers, age 20, registered September quarter 1919 in Paddington.

Personal Data

Alfred was deemed to have enlisted on 2nd March 1916, just after his 17th birthday. It was almost 12 months later, on 15th February 1917, that he was called up for service, when he was aged 18 years and 7 days old. He was 5 feet 4¼ inches tall with a 33-inch chest, weighed 98 pounds, and was employed as a Turner. His physical development was described as 'Good'. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Joyce Barnes of 13 Tividale Road, Tipton.

Alfred was posted to the 87th Training Reserve at Hornsea, and then in June 1917 to the 13th Training Reserve at Brocton, near Cannock. Alfred arrived in France on 13th February 1918, and on 23rd February he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters. Just 4 weeks later, on 21st March, the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. The 2nd Sherwood Foresters were in front line trenches near Lagnicourt, about 5 miles north east of Bapaume, and held out bravely for most of the day.

On that day Albert received a Gun Shot Wound to the forehead and was treated at No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station, and No. 2 Stationary Hospital at Abbeville, and then back to Edmonton General Medical Hospital. His wounds healed quickly and he was discharged in April for a period of leave. He was back with his regiment in France by 20th July.

After Alfred's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £21/18/8d (21 pounds, 18 shillings and 8 pence); this was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Joyce A. Barnes, in April 1920. His War Gratuity was £13/10/0d (13 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his mother in April 1920. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Alfred had enlisted in approximately July 1916.

A Dependent's Pension Card exists in respect of Alfred, in the name of his mother, Mrs Joyce Ann Barnes. There is no indication on the Card if a Dependant's Pension was ever paid. Her address at this time was 34 Tividale Road, Tipton.

Action resulting in his death

On the 29th September 1918 the German Hindenburg Line was breached, notably by the 46th (North Midlands) Division at Riqueval. The 6th Division, to which Alfred Pincher belonged, took over from the exhausted 46th Division to continue the attack on 8th October towards Bohain. At some stage between the 8th and 10th October Alfred was seriously injured, suffering from multiple Gun Shot Wounds to arm, leg and back.

He was treated at 141st Field Ambulance on the 10th October, and arrived at the 73rd General Hospital in Trouville on 15th October where he stayed for 3 months. During this time both his right arm and left leg were amputated.

Alfred sailed for England on the Hospital Ship 'Panama' on 22nd January 1919 and arrived at Fulham Military Hospital on 29th January. His arm and leg wounds were still not healed and he transferred to Paddington Military Hospital on 7th May 1919. Here further operations were performed to attempting to resolve the problems from his initial amputations.

On 25th June he complained of abdominal pain, and two exploratory operations were done to diagnose the problem. Sadly, after all his suffering, Alfred died on 4th July 1919 from kidney disease possibly damaged by the wounds to his back. Alfred was buried in Tipton Cemetery.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.