In Favreuil British Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 71797 Driver Alfred Edward Rowe serving with the “C” Battery 112th Brigade Royal Field Artillery who died 21/03/1918.

Ian Murray has submitted the following:-

Alfred was born in the Tiverton district of Devon in 1895. His father, Harry was born in Devon; his mother Lily was born in Richmond, Yorkshire. In 1901, Harry was an Under-Gardener and the family lived in Esh Hall Road in Esh.

By 1911 the family had moved to Greencroft Park where Harry worked on the farm. Alfred and three of his brothers were all miners.

Alfred enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery and embarked to France 26th September 1915.

Alfred was serving in C Battery, 112th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery when he died on 21st March 1918 aged 23. He is buried in Favreuil British Cemetery. There are seven other soldiers in this cemetery from the Royal Field Artillery with the same date of death as Alfred.

His family added “He died that we might live” to his headstone.

Awards: 1915 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal.

The Consett Guardian 18/05/1918 reports his death:-
He was wounded 12 months ago. He had worked at the Shield Row Drift of the Hedley Colliery. His father was an old soldier. One of his brothers has already been discharged from the army.

The attached photograph has been supplied by Maureen Heron

Alfred Edward Rowe is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01 and L62.07 and at South Moor on S129.01