Pte 91289 Alfred William Hides

• Age: 19
• From: Newchurch, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Alfred William Hides was born on 01st February 1899 at Whitewell Bottom, Newchurch to Seth Hides and his wife Mary Ann (nee Metcalfe) who married on the 20th October 1892 at St Nicholas' Church, Newchurch.  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 5, High Town Road, Rawtenstall, Haslingden, Lancashire. His father Seth is aged 39, born 1862 in Lancashire and is a stationary engine tenter, whilst his mother, Mary Ann, is aged 30, born 1871 in Lancashire with no occupation listed. They have five children, all born in Lancashire and listed as; Elsie aged 8, born 1893, Frank aged 6, born 1895, Edgar aged 4 born 1897, Alfred aged 2, born 1899 and Robert Winston born 1901.  

His father, Seth died in the March quarter of 1907, aged 45.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 1 Bock St Newchurch, Rawtenstall, Lancashire.  Mary Ann is a widow aged 40 with no occupation listed. She advised that she had been married for 19 years and had 7 children of which 6 have survived. She has four of her children living with her, all born Whitewell Bottom, Newchurch; Elsie aged 18, is a weaver, Frank aged 16, is a mill hand, Edgar Mitchell aged 14 is employed as a slipper hand and Alfred aged 12 is employed as a half time slipper hand. 

His mother then aged 43 remarried to widow Joseph Batty a 48 year old carter on 04th October 1913 at St Matthew's Church, Blackburn.  

Alfred enlisted in Preston and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 91289 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918, aged 19, during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Alfred William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. 

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

We currently have no further information on Alfred William Hides, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.