FRYER, Alfred Ernest

Alfred Fryer was the son of Walter and Ann Fryer of Wollaston. They lived at 26 King Street and Alfred Fryer was employed as a carter. He volunteered in 1914 and enlisted in the Worcesters. He joined the 3rd Battalion in France in December 1914 and served on the front line at Spanbroek Mill and then in the Ypres salient in June 1915. In April 1916 they moved to Vimy Ridge, which had been under French control to that point. The British line was half way up the slope, which had already been honey-combed by tunnels. It was unusual fighting terrain that the battalion took over. Each trench seemed to lead to a crater, and the two front lines, which were quite close, weaved between them. There was little patrolling of no man's land, but frequent bombings as small groups of men tried to fight their way up a short stretch of trench. After the loss of some trenches a counter attack was ordered for the 22 May. Fierce German resistance meant that little was gained and casualties numbered over a hundred. Private Alfred Fryer was seriously wounded and taken to a hospital at Aubigny. Here he died on the 28th May and is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension (1 C 45). He was 35 years of age and is commemorated on the Stourbridge and Wollaston church Memorials.