ROWBOTTOM, Alfred Benjamin

Alfred Rowbottom was the son of James Rowbottom of 5 Alwen Street, Wordsley. He enlisted, probably in 1917, and joined the 86th Training Reserve Battalion. He was then sent to the Western Front, probably after the heavy losses from the German Spring offensives of 1918. He joined the 9th Battalion of the KOYLI in the 21st Division which was organizing for what became the Advance to Victory. This began with the 8th August victory and developed on a wide scale from the 21st August. The KOYLI were involved in pushing the line forward, in the course of which Private Alfred Rowbottom was killed in action on the 15th August. He was 19 years of age and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois and Wordsley Memorials.