Alfred William Holdcroft was born on the 27th July 1890 at 124 Hot Lane, Burslem, Staffordshire, born to Sarah Jane née Davies and Alfred William Holdcroft Sr. 

Alfred had an older brother, John, born in 1887, an older sister, Elizabeth, born in 1889, then a younger brother, William, born in 1892, and a younger sister, Emily, born in 1897. His birth certificate shows his father was a pottery placer. 

The census of 1891 shows Alfred as an 8-month-old baby living with both his parents and siblings, John and Elizabeth, at 124 Hot Lane, Burslem. His father was working as a potters oven man. 

The 1901 census shows Alfred as a 10-year-old still living with both his parents, siblings John, Elizabeth, William, and Emily. His father is working as a potter/ transfer, but they are now living at 24 Piccadilly Street, Tunstall. His brother John, aged 13, was working as a potters mould runner. 

By the 1911 census, Alfred is 21 years old, living at 98 Hot Lane, Burslem, with both his parents and four siblings. He is working as an attendant coal cutter underground. His father still works as a potter, and brother John is now working in a colliery, his sister Elizabeth is a domestic servant, and sister Emily is unemployed. 

In the final quarter of 1911, Alfred married Harriet Ann Lewis. They made their home at 99 Hot Lane and welcomed their first child, Elizabeth, in March of 1912, but sadly, by November 1912, she died aged 8 months. Alfred is named as a coal cutter on Elizabeth's death certificate. 

On 19th February 1914, Harriet and Alfred welcomed their daughter May, and soon after, on 14th August 1915, their son Alfred William was born. 

Some time between 1912 and 1914, Alfred went to work at Royal Doulton Burslem. His records from the (Star and Garter) military convalescent home in Richmond, Surrey, have Alfred's occupation as a potter before his war service. 

Alfred was a pre-WW1 Territorial Soldier serving as Private 3732 North Staffordshire Regiment. He enlisted for full service on the 9th October 1914 after the outbreak of WW1 and was renumbered 200814, still serving as a private and posted to the 1/5th North Staffordshire Regiment.

He is described as being 5’4” tall, 36” chest, 3” expansion, pale complexion, dark brown hair, blue eyes, and his given address is 65 Hot Lane, Burslem, with his wife, Harriet Ann Holdcroft. 

His Pension record shows us that he served at home and abroad during the following periods.

HOME 19th October 1914 - 24th June 1915

FRANCE 25th June 1915 - 28th October 1915

HOME 29th October 1915 - 14th May 1916

FRANCE 15th May 1916 - 12th July 1916

HOME 13th July 1916 - 6th December 1917.

His journey to the front began on the 24th June 1915 at Southampton, where he embarked on a transport ship and arrived in Rouen, France, the following day.  Alfred was badly wounded on the 1st July 1916, suffering a gunshot wound to the chest, which could be from small arms fire or exploding shrapnel artillery.  Alfred took part in the Somme offensive of the 1st July 1916, when the British suffered appalling losses on one day, amounting to 60,000 dead and wounded. Alfred's battalion, the 1/5th North Staffordshire Regiment were deployed in the Gommecourt area of France and on that fateful day went over the top, its objective to capture Gommecourt Wood and village. Fierce fighting took place, but the attack faltered. Elements of the battalion made it into the German positions but were soon fought off, Alfred's battalion suffering 124 wounded, 27 killed, and 23 missing.

After the battle, Alfred's battalion was withdrawn the following day, and Alfred was taken to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station situated at Warlincourt, which was an improvised tented station. He was then, on the 3rd July 1916, received at the number 16 General Hospital at Le Tréport, France. From there on, on the 12th July 1916, he was evacuated to England, arriving on the 13th July 1916.

It is not known where in England he was initially treated for his injuries, but he was discharged with Honour from military service on the 6th December 1917, being no longer fit for service, under King's Regulation 392.  

Due to being discharged for wounds, he was also awarded the Silver War Badge serial number 291782. 

His SWB award shows he had a total of 7 years' service with the colours. 

He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. 

Alfred was taken from North Staffordshire Infirmary and admitted to the Star and Garter military convalescent home in Richmond, Surrey, on 05.01.1918.  Members of the Red Cross and Voluntary Aid Detachment staffed this home. Its purpose is to rehabilitate soldiers with severe injuries and disabilities caused by war. His record states he was paraplegic, having been wounded at Gommecourt on 01.07.1916. His religion is given as the Church of England, and his next of kin was Mrs Holdcroft (wife) of 22 Spencer Street, Burslem, Staffordshire. 

His medical records show he did not have bedsores, but there was a large scar on his sacrum and right buttock. 

From pension records, we can see His wife, Harriet, was lodging in the nearby 9 Sand Pit Road, Petersham, at the time of his death. 

Alfred's intended rehabilitation was cut short when he died on the 1st November 1918, aged 28, in Richmond, Surrey.

Both his death certificate and military pension card show us that his cause of death was Nephritis and Influenza. 

It is not a stretch of the imagination to conclude his death could be attributable to a weakened ability to fight off these conditions due to the chest wounds he sustained in battle, as well as his paraplegic state. 

Alfred’s pension card shows that Harriet, his wife, and his children received his pension from 31.07.1919 

Both Alfred's children, May and Alfred, received his pension until they were 16 years old in 1930 and 1931. 

He is now buried in Burslem Cemetery in grave number 14779, Block 31, Row 9, Plot 7. 

Also buried in this grave are: 

Elizabeth Holdcroft, born 1912 - died 1912, ( Alfred and Harriet's eldest daughter) 

Nicholas James Hyde, born 1913 - died 1913 ( mother's maiden name Packer, son of John and Annie Hyde, 23 Hot Lane, Burslem.) 

Samual Lewis was born in 1883 and died in 1941. (Harriet’s brother ).

Alfred is remembered on the Burslem Royal Doulton War Memorial and the North Road & District Hot Lane Memorial.

Alfred’s grave in Burslem Cemetery had been unmarked for a substantial amount of time; through liaising with Burslem Cemetery, a marker was placed identifying the grave.

On June 4th 2025, an application was made to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to have Alfred William Holdcroft formally commemorated. 

On Sunday, 21st September 2025, the Royal Doulton Kilngate project held a ceremony for Pte Alfred William Holdcroft with the rededication and positioning of a temporary cross at Burslem Cemetery. Click the link below to read about the day. 

As researchers, Ruth and Rob are constantly trying to connect with potential family members to share their ancestors' story with them. To read about the Homecoming of Alfred Holdcroft, click the link below.  

On June 18th 2026, we received confirmation from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that Pte 200814 Alfred William Holdcroft was officially to be commemorated and that they would be in touch in respect of his grave as soon as the necessary searches had been done.  

Sources 

England + Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915 Vol 6b page 145)

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2165; Folio: 19; Page: 32; GSU roll: 6097275

Ancestry 1901 censusClass: RG13; Piece: 2591; Folio: 125; Page: 12 

FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

Ancestry 1911 census 

Staffordshire Burial Index https://www.staffordshireburials.org.uk/cgi/burialind.cgi 

Death Registry General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 2a; Page: 1157

Surrey History Centre  [The Royal Star and Garter Homes, Richmond Hill Records]  Collection reference: LS/1715/25. 

The National Archives (1914–1919) War diary 1/5th battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. Reference: WO 95/2685/1.

The National Archives (2025) UK, WWI, Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923. Record for Alfred William Holdcroft. Available at: ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 5 July 2025).

National Army Museum UK, British Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929. Record for Alfred William Holdcroft. Available at: ancestry.co.uk (Accessed: 5 July 2025).

Forces War Records (2025) UK, Nominal Index Of All Service Personnel Serving In A Theatre Of War, 1914-1919. Record for Alfred William Holdcroft. Available at: forceswarrecords.com (Accessed: 5 July 2025).

Forces War Records (2025) UK, WWI, British Army Medal Roll Index Cards, 1914-1920. Record for Alfred William Holdcroft. Available at: forceswarrecords.com (Accessed: 5 July 2025).

Forces War Records (2025) UK, WWI, British Army Pension Records, 1914-1920. Record for [Alfred William Holdcroft ]. Available at: forceswarrecords.com (Accessed: 5 July 2025).

Forces War Records (2025) UK, WWI, Silver War Badge, 1914-1920. Record for Alfred William Holdcroft. Available at: forceswarrecords.com (Accessed: 5 July 2025).