POYNER, Alfred

Alfred Poyner was the son of Mr Joseph Poyner of 5 Parkes Yard, Coventry Street, Stourbridge, and he attended Enville Street Council school. He had been a sailor but missed his ship at Plymouth and so enlisted in the army at Chelsea. He joined the Worcesters and was posted to the 1st Battalion in 1916. By this date they had been almost continuously involved on the Western Front and were fighting on the Somme. On the 7th July they attacked Contalmaison, fought hand to hand in the trenches in front of the village and had to face enemy counter attacks. Private Alfred Poyner was killed in action on the 9th July. He was 18 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval, Stourbridge, St. John's church and Enville Street school Memorials.