BREESE, Alfred

Alfred Breese was the eldest son of William and Lucy Breese of 61 Collis Street, Amblecote, a glassmaker. Alfred Breese was a pre-war regular soldier with the 1st Battalion of the South Staffords who were stationed in South Africa in August 1914. They returned to England in September and landed at Zeebrugge on the 7th October. Their task was to halt the German advance into northern Belgium. They advanced to Ghent to link up with the Belgian army but were forced to retreat. They then moved to cover the defence of Ypres which was in serious danger and were fighting in the front line at Kruseik on the 25th. At this point they were facing the main German advance along the Menin Road on the 29-30th and were forced back with heavy losses. After a lull of a few days the enemy attack was resumed and the Staffords’ attempts to halt them at Klein Zillebeke were in vain. Captain Vallentin was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his and the battalion’s gallant efforts and Private Alfred Breese was killed alongside him on the 7th November. He was 26 years of age and is commemorated on the Menin Gate and Amblecote Memorials. A brother, Victor, served in the Dragoon Guards and survived and another, William, in the Worcesters died on the 7th January 1915.