Alfred Parris (known as Jim) was born in Borstal on 13 December 1890, to his parents Mark and Isabella. \u00a0He was baptised at St Matthew’s Church on 15 February 1891, and lived at 24 Sidney Road.[SMRH]<\/p>\n
On 3 March 1908, when he was 17 years old, Alfred volunteered for six years of service<\/a> with the Buffs’ Special Reserve<\/a>. \u00a0At his medical on 5 March 1908, Alfred was 5ft 2ins tall, with blond hair and blue eyes, and he was passed as fit for service. \u00a0His regimental number in the Buffs was 8887.<\/p>\n At the time of the 1911 Census, Alfred was still living at home with his mother, who was then 53, widowed and working as a laundress. \u00a0Isabella Parris was originally from Whiteparish in Wiltshire. \u00a0Alfred’s oldest sister, also Isabella, was also living at home, as she had been widowed less than a year into her marriage; his older brother, Frederick, was unmarried and also living at home. \u00a0Frederick was working as an oarsman, whilst Alfred was a labourer at the cement works. \u00a0The youngest daughter, Lily, was aged 14 and no occupation was recorded for her – she may well have still been in school.\u00a0\u00a0Mark Parris was originally from Cooling, and at the time of the 1901 Census, was working as a general labourer.<\/p>\n Alfred\u00a0was discharged from the Buffs on 10 April 1912, as he was about to join the RAM Corps<\/a> (his regimental number was then 6325). Joining the RAMC took him to Aldershot, where he attended the training college and achieved Third Class in his Army School training. \u00a0At his medical in April 1912, Alfred had grown two inches and had also acquired various tattoos. \u00a0He was declared fit for service in the RAMC.<\/p>\n However, he did not remain in the RAMC, as his war grave records him as being a Driver in the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, with his regimental number now 98450. \u00a0The De Caville Index lists him as being in the 55th Division Ammunition Column, of the Royal Field Artillery<\/a>. \u00a0Alfred would have been helping to get ammunition to artillery.<\/p>\n Alfred was killed in action on 28 August 1917, aged 26. \u00a0He is buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. \u00a0Click here to see a photograph of his grave<\/a>. \u00a0Alfred was awarded the British War Medal in 1920.<\/p>\n