Alfred Dennis Daft
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Alfred Dennis was the eldest son of Herbert and Sarah Daft (née Carrington). His father Herbert was born in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, in 1865, and his mother Sarah Carrington was born in Bottesford, Lincolnshire, in about 1868. They were married in 1891 and had five sons: Alfred Dennis b. Papplewick 1892; Herbert John b. Papplewick 1894 bap. Orston St Mary 15 March 1896; Arthur Christopher b. Hucknall Torkard 1896 bap. Orston St Mary 15 March 1896; George Frederick b. Skegby 1904 bap. Skegby 7 August 1904 and William Henry b. Skegby 1908 bap. Skegby 18 March 1908. In 1901 Herbert, a foreman platelayer (railway), and Sarah were living on Mansfield Road, Skegby, with their three sons Alfred, Herbert and Arthur. The family was still living on Mansfield Road in 1911; all five sons were still living at home: Alfred (18) a colliery shunter, Herbert (17) and Arthur (15) who were both colliery banksmen, George (6) and William (3). Alfred married Olive Woodhead in 1916. According to a newspaper report of his death the following year, the marriage took place at Easter and Alfred died on Easter Saturday 1917. There is a registration of the death and a probate record for an Olive Daft (b. 1890) of Dalesforth Road, Skegby, who died in 1972. Alfred's father Herbert died on 28 September 1927; he was living at Kelham Cottages, Mansfield Road, Skegby. His widow Sarah was living at 6 Kelham Cottages in 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled. She died the following year. Two of Alfred's brothers also served in the war. Herbert John served in the Sherwood Foresters (4732 Private) and later in the Machine Gun Corps (153548 Private). Arthur Christopher probably served in the Army Cyclist Corps (22866).
2/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Lance Corporal Alfred Dennis Daft lived at Skegby and enlisted at Stanton Hill. He was killed in action on 7th April 1917 and is buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy, France (grave ref. III. A. 43). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Vadencourt British Cemetery (extract):' Called at first Vadencourt New British Cemetery. Maissemy passed into British hands in 1917. It was captured by the enemy on the 21st March 1918 ... and retaken by the 1st Division on the following 15th September. At the beginning of October, the IX Corps Main Dressing Station was at Vadencourt (now Vadancourt) was begun in August 1917, by fighting units, and used until March 1918. In October and November 1918, it was used by the 5th, 47th and 61st Casualty Clearing Stations (at Bihecourt, on the road to Vermand) as well as by Field Ambulances. These original graves are in Plots I-III. After the Armistice these plots were enlarged, and Plots IV and V made, by the concentration of graves from the surrounding battlefields and from a few small burial grounds. These scattered graves were mainly of April 1917, and March, April, September and October 1918, and many of them represented casualties of the 59th (North Midland) Division).' (www.cwgc.org)
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Olive was his legatee. Mansfield Reporter, 25 May 1917: 'Heavy Sherwood Loses. 45 Rank and File Dead, and 102 Wounded or Missing ... Killed Sherwood Foresters … Lnce-Cpl AD Daft 306787, Skegby.' Report published on 22nd June 1917 in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times:- “Lance-Corporal Daft, killed, hailed from Skegby. Of a quiet disposition, exceedingly good natured and always willing to do anyone a good turn and lend a helping hand, he, took, has left behind many who will revere his memory. In pre-war days Lance-Corporal Daft took an active part in church affairs at Skegby, and in the army he remained a firm Christian character. It is a curious coincidence that Lance-Corpl. Daft was married at Eastertide last year, and he died at Eastertide this year.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
