Sergeant Richard Alford son of William Alford of 54 Mill Street, Torrington, Devon, England. Husband of Corrinne Nellie Alford, of Great Torrington, Devon, England. Born 24 April 1885. A farmer by trade.
Enlistment
Enlisted with the 226th Battalion on 31 March 1916 at Portage-la-Prairie, Manitoba. At this time, Richard stood 5′ 8″ tall, 155 pounds, with fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair, and he was 31 years of age.
226th Battalion
Organized in March 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. Gillespie. Firstly, mobilized at Camp Hughes, Manitoba, and recruited in Portage la Prairie, Dauphin, Virden, Neepawa, Minnedosa, Russell, Gladstone, Shoal Lake, Glenboro, Souris, Carberry, Swan River, Birtle and Rapid City. Secondly, embarked from Halifax 20 December 1916 aboard SS OLYMPIC, and disembarked in England on 26 December 1916, with a strength of 32 officers, 1035 other ranks. Later, absorbed by 14th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 6 January 1917. Finally, perpetuated by The Manitoba Horse which, in 1936, amalgamated with The Fort Garry Horse. Also perpetuated by The Winnipeg Light Infantry.
Private Richard Alford transferred to the 14th Reserve Battalion at Dibgate, 7 April 1917.
14th Reserve Battalion (Manitoba)
Organized at Shorncliffe on 4 January 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel I.R. Snider. Initially, formed by absorbing 108th, 179th and one-half of 226th Battalion. Later, absorbed 174th Battalion on 7 May 1917, and reinforced 16th, 43rd and 44th Battalions. Finally, absorbed by 11th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 15 October 1917.
France
Private Richard Alford S.o.S. on proceeding to France with the 44th Battalion, 3 June 1917. Left for unit, 5 June 1917, arriving 9 June 1917.
44th Battalion
Organized in February 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel E. R. Wayland. Firstly, mobilized at Winnipeg, and recruited in Winnipeg. Secondly, a draft of 5 officers and 249 other ranks sent to England on 4 September 1915. Thirdly, a draft of 10 officers and 500 other ranks from 44th and 45th Battalions sent to England on 1 June 1915. Finally, embarked from Halifax 23 October 1915 aboard SS LAPLAND, and disembarked in England on 30 October 1915 with a strength of 36 officers, 1076 other ranks. Later, disembarked in France 10 August 1916 with the 4th Canadian Division, 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
Furthermore, reinforced by the 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion and returned to England 23 April 1919. In addition, perpetuated by The Carleton Light Infantry which, in 1936, amalgamated with The York Regiment to form The Carleton and York Regiment, and perpetuation changed 11 September 1969 to The Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
Private Richard Alford appointed Lance-Corporal in the field, 22 September 1917. Then, GSW hand, and transferred to No.44 CCS, 28 October 1917. Later, posted to M.R.D., Shorncliffe, per AT GRANTULLY CASTLE, 5 November 1917.
Lance-Corporal Richard Alford On Command, 1st Casualty Clearing Depot, 16 January 1918, Shorncliffe. Then, granted permission to marry, St. Martin Plains, 17 March 1918.
Lance-Corporal Richard Alford once again posted to a reserve battalion (18th Reserve Battalion), Dibgate, 27 March 1918.
18th Reserve Battalion (Manitoba)
Organized at Seaford on 12 January 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel K. C. Bedson. Firstly, formed by absorbing 144th and 203rd Battalions. Absorbing 181st Battalion on 29 April 1917, 190th on 14 May 1917, 141st on 21 May 1917, 151st Battalion on 17 October 1917 as well as the 2nd Independent Company and British American Draft from Winnipeg, and reinforced 8th, 44th and 52nd Battalions. Later it reinforced the 78th, 107th and 3rd Labour Battalions. Then, after August 1918, the 13th Canadian Reserve Battalion reinforced the 44th Battalion, and moved to East Sandling on 5 March 1917, Dibgate on 8 March 1917, Seaford in April 1918. Finally, arrived in Canada 20 June 1919, and disbanded.
Once again, Lance-Corporal Richard Alford drafted to 44th Battalion, 26 April 1918.
Return to the Western Front
Lance-Corporal Richard Alford arrived in France, 3 May 1918, joining his unit on 11 May 1918. Later, granted Good Conduct Badge, 15 June 1918, and promoted Sergeant, 31 August 1918, in the field. Then, strained wrist, 6 September 1918, and admitted to No.9 Canadian Field Ambulance, and finally reported to duty 5 October 1918.
Sergeant Richard Alford awarded the Military Medal, 9 September 1918 (London Gazette No. 31173, 7 February 1919).
Battle of Canal du Nord
The Battle of Canal du Nord, 28 September 1918. On the right, Canadian troops advance as much as two kilometers in a day of heavy fighting, clearing out the rest of the Marcoing Line trench system in their sector. Meanwhile, troops in the Corps center clear the villages of Raillencourt and Sailly, which straddle the Marcoing Line trench system. They are halted, however, by heavy German shelling short of the Douai-Cambrai road. Meanwhile, in Flanders, troops of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment push forward close to five kilometers, at a cost of only 15 casualties. Furthermore, they assist in clearing Château Wood and establish a line at Polygon Racecourse, 28 September 1918.
Victoria Cross recipient: Lt. M.F. Gregg MC, Royal Canadian Regiment, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Sergeant Richard Alford killed-in-action 28 September 1918. During operations at Cambrai, while holding the line in front of Sailly, Sergeant Alford hit in the leg and back by shrapnel, and instantly killed.
Sergeant Richard Alford posthumously awarded a Bar to the Military Medal, 9 October 1918 (London Gazette No. 31338, 15 July 1919).
Quarry Wood Cemetery, Sains-les-Marquion
Sains les Marquion is a village approximately 12 kilometres north-west of Cambrai and 2 kilometres south of the Arras to Cambrai road (D939). The cemetery lies at the end of an access path to the left of the D15 road heading towards Havrincourt, about 2 kilometres from the village.
Quarry Wood Cemetery was made by the 102nd Canadian Battalion in October 1918. There are now over 250 Great War casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to one Canadian Officer believed to be buried among them.
44th Battalion Vimy Ridge Monument
The 44th Battalion monument designed by Capt. Herbert Bell Rugh. Finally, the cross and concrete nominal rolls inset at the cenotaph’s base were brought to Winnipeg in 1924 and formally unveiled in 1926.
More
Please subscribe to CEFRG to be notified by email when there are new posts. Subscription is free, and your email kept confidential.