8082 Pte Alfred Gurden, 1st Bn, West Yorkshire Regiment

8082 Private Alfred Gurden of the 1st Bn, The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), died of wounds on 1st October 1914.

Alfred was a regular soldier whose number suggests he joined the West Yorkshire Regiment in late 1905 or 1906. He was born in York and enlisted there. He arrived in France with his regiment on 8th September 1914.

Private Gurden is buried in Vailly British Cemetery; grave reference II.F.7. He is probably the same 12 year old who appears on the 1901 census living with his parents and five brothers in York. There is also a Walter Gurden who was killed in action on 10th July 1916 and this is possibly Alfred's older brother. He is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1901 census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission