Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Gunner Sherwood passed through Peterborough East Station on 28 March 1917 and was serving with the Machine Gun Corps, based at Belton Park, Grantham.  He wrote in the visitors’ book “Many thanks for your kindnest shown us while we were stranded in Peterboro after a unpleasant return as force is no choice.”  “A day I wont forget and a Good many more (O thoes Wires)”.

We have found a service record and whilst the signature is not a perfect match, we are reasonably confident that Gunner Sherwood is Albert Sherwood who was born on 23 January 1898, at Tettenhall, Wolverhampton to parents William Francis and Eliza Charlotte (nee Davies).  In 1901, Alfred (3) is living at 46 Ash Street, Wolverhampton with his parents William (41) a coachman in domestic service and Elizabeth (32) and his siblings Edward (7) and Sarah (5).  In 1911, the family were living at Aldersley Road, Tettenhall, Wrottesley, Staffordshire with five children, Edward (17) a domestic gardener, Sarah (15) a nurse maid and Alfred (13), William (9) and Elizabeth (9) are at school.

Alfred was 18 years old when he attested at Wolverhampton on 12 May 1916.  He was employed as a chauffeur, of slight build at 5’2” tall and a 31” chest with fair hair and blue eyes.  He was mobilised on 29 August 1916, and joined the Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport Depot. In January 1917, he transferred to the 105^th Reserve Battalion, Edinburgh and then to the Machine Gun Corps 4^th Battalion at Clipstone Camp, Nottinghamshire in April 1917.  He had two periods with the British Expeditionary Force in France, the first from 20 May 1917 to June 1918.  He received a gunshot wound to his right thumb on 14 June 1918, resulting in severe laceration and fracture of the phalanx and he was hospitalised for 27 days.  He returned to France from 29 October 1918 returning to the UK before his discharge on 9 March 1919.  Following his discharge, he immediately re-enlisted with the 7^th Battalion Machine Gun Corps for a further two years.  He served in Murmansk, Russia with the North Russia Relief Force from 25 August 1919, until he was evacuated to the UK on 4 October 1919.  He served in India arriving in Bombay on 24 March 1920, and returning to the UK on 17 April 1921.  Alfred was awarded the British War and Allied Victory medals.

In 1939, Alfred was living at 85 Aldersley Road, Seisdon, Staffordshire with his parents, both now retired.  Alfred is working as a gardener groundsman carrying out heavy work.

Alfred died in Wolverhampton in 1971, aged 74 years.  We have been unable to trace a marriage for Alfred.

Could Albert be a member of your family.  Please get in touch if you can tell us more.