Private Alfred Berry
130509 Machine Gun Corps 34th Bttn
Killed in Action 31st August 1918, aged 19
Lived at 21 Stafford Street
Buried in La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium V.B.23.
St Peters Memorial, Burnley
Burnley Express 18/9/918

Only one Alfred Berry from Burnley was killed in the war – although it has not yet been possible to directly link him with St. Peter’s his details are as follows
Alfred Berry was born on September 2nd 1898 and lived at 114 Trafalgar Street. He enlisted in Blackburn as Private 6730 in the East Lancashire Regiment and was transferred to become Private 130509 in the 34th Bn., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).

Two Days Off 20 (Burnley Express 18/9/1918)

. The news of the death in action on August 31st of Pte. Alfred Berry, 130509 of the Machine Gun Corps, only son of Mr and Mrs Berry, of 114, Trafalgar Street, Burnley, will be regretted especially by those connected with the Burnley Lane Salvation Army Corps, with which place he was clearly identified. Pte Berry was 19 years of age and would have celebrated his 20th birthday had he lived two days more. Previous to joining the army on January 29th, 1916, he was employed at Messrs. Butterworth and Dickinson’s Ironworks, Rosegrove. He was drafted out in March of the present year and had gone through some severe fighting.

An Officer of his company, Sec-Lt. Warker has forwarded the following letter to the mother of deceased soldier:- “It is with great regret I write to you in connection with your son. During the recent fighting near ----- your son was one of a team whose position was near a farm building. It is nearly a ruin of course. Before the advance we were subjected to shell fire, and one large shell fell close to the team. We were on the spot in a moment, but only to find your son and four other members of the team had been killed instantly. We buried them in all honour in the yard of the farm. I had to advance shortly afterwards. It was here your son’s friend, Lce-Cpl. Clough, was killed at the same time. The date was 31st August at 5.00am. We all send you our heartfelt sympathy in the loss of your son. He was a promising and very steady soldier and I too shall miss him in the section.”