Alfred was born around 1897 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire.  He first appears on a census in 1901 when he was just 4. His parents were Thomas J Castrey ( a labourer in the iron works) and Harriet. In 1901 the children listed were May 6, Alfred 4, Lydia 2 and Amy 7 months. They lived at 5 Guns Lane in West Bromwich.

Ten years later in the 1911 census the family had moved to Wepre View Shotton. The father, Thomas was doing  the same labouring job in the iron works but now in Deeside. His wife of 17 years, had given birth to 7 children and they were all living at home. May 16 , Alfred 14, Lydia 12, Amy 10, Harriet 8, Stanley 5, Louisa 3.

UK soldiers who died in the Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk  gives us all the above regimental details and additionally tells us that he enlisted in Shotton. It is this source that states he was ‘killed in action’ or ‘died of wounds’.

His medal card also accessible on ‘ancestry’ tells us that he first entered a theatre of war on 30th September 1915 and that was in France.

There is a card for him in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at the County Archive Office at Hawarden in Flintshire. On the card is the address 49 Alexandra Street Shotton, regimental details as above, that he served for 3 years 9 months and that he was a ‘Lewis Gun Sergeant’* and it gives the date of his death. The card was signed by T Castrey (his father).

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Gun

Commonwealth War Graves Commission additional information: Son of Thomas James and Harriet Castrey, of Shotton, nr. Chester.

Alfred is also remembered on the Hawarden War Memorial and St. Ethelwold’s Church Screen.