Alfred Bakewell was born in Longton, Staffordshire, England on 7 October 1892 and baptised on 1 November 1892.

The 1901 Census shows that the family lived at 155 East Parade, Rhyl, Flintshire, North Wales. The head of the family was George Bakewell aged 54, who was a Retired China Manufacturer and Potters Miller.  His wife Mary Jane Bakewell aged 40 and their two children – George Victor Bakewell aged 13 and Alfred Bakewell aged 8 years.

Little is known of his early life but on 15 September 1905 Alfred was appointed an Officer Cadet in the Royal Navy.  By 1911 aged 18, he was a Midshipman at Collingwood, Number 9 Dock, HM Dockyard, Devonport and at the outbreak of the First World War he was a commissioned Lieutenant, serving on board HMS Onslaught.

HMS Onslaught.

The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle fought by the British Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe against the Imperial German Navy’s High Seas Fleet under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer.  It was fought from 31 May 1916 to 1 June 1916, in the North Sea near the coast of Denmark.  Lieutenant Bakewell was killed in action on 31 May 1916 alongside his captain, Lieutenant Commander Arthur Onslow.  The ship was badly damaged but made it back to a Scottish Port.

Two other Royal Navy sailors whose names appear on the Rhyl War Memorial were also killed during the Battle of Jutland – Naval Instructor Thomas Elwyn Jones, who was killed in action when HMS Defence was sunk on 31 May 1916 and Signal Boy Peter James Thomas aged 16, who was  also killed in action when HMS Invincible was sunk on 31 May 1916.

Photograph of Lt Alfred Bakewell’s Headstone at Queensferry Cemetery, West Lothian, Scotland.

There is no Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for Alfred Bakewell in the County Archives Office, Hawarden, Flintshire.

He is also remembered on a Remembrance plaque at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire and on the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.