War Memorials - Surnames I

Alfred Charles Imber was born in 1898 (GRO reference: Mar 1898 Warminster 5a 144) to Henry and Betsey Jane Imber (nee Sparey).

The 1901 census shows the family living at Crown Place in the tiny Wiltshire village of Potterne. Alfred's father Henry is a 33 year old 'Asylum Attendant (lunatic) Worker'. About this time Epsom was acquiring several asylums, and this may explain why Henry moved his family to Ewell. Alfred's mother, Betsy was 26 years old, and he had a one year old sister, Helen Louisa (GRO reference: Dec 1899 Warminster 5a 137) Note: Ancestry transcription is Ember not Imber.

Alfred Charles Imber's service records in the National Archives state he was born in Epsom and that when he attested at St Paul's Churchyard on 1 September 1914 his age was 19 years and 1 month. The "Soldiers Died" CD also states that he was born in Epsom. In Free BMD and Ancestry BMD, from 1894 to 1898 there is only one entry for Alfred Charles Imber (GRO reference: Mar 1898 Warminster 5a 144), nothing local. However, his National Archive service record states his grandmother, Clara Ann Sparey, was born in Sherrington in Wiltshire, which is in the registration district of Warminster.

My assessment is that he was born in 1898 within the Warminster registration district, and that he enlisted aged 16, telling the recruitment officer he was 19 years and 1 month. If he had been born in Wiltshire and moved to Ewell at an early age, he may not have been aware of his birth place and may well have believed he had been born in Epsom.

He was in the Ewell Old Boys' Association 1913 - 1914 and lived at 2 Cottage Road, West Ewell.

In the 1913 electoral roll his father, Henry Imber, lived at Cottage Road, Ewell.

His service records at the National Archives show that when he attested on 1 September 1914 he worked as a clerk, was 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighed 122 lbs, and had a chest measurement of 33 ½ inches with an expansion of 2 inches. He had a fresh complexion, with brown eyes and brown hair. On his left arm were 4 vaccination marks, and despite being flat footed in both feet he was declared fit for the army. His physical development was good and his vision was a perfect 6/6 in both eyes. His next of kin was his father Henry, living at 2 Cottage Road, West Ewell. His mother was dead. Also noted are his Aunts and Uncles: Harry Sparey of Yeovil, Herbert Sparey, Alice Ann Fisher Carter and Louisa Sparey, all from Wiltshire.

His Battalion was the 7th Rifle Brigade which was in the 41 Brigade 14 Division. He went to France on the 19 May 1915, but prior to that, whilst at Elstead, he had been awarded 5 days Confined to Barracks (CB) for using obscene language to a NCO.

His time in France was not a healthy period for him. Between May 1915 and March 1918 he was hospitalised three times with Scabies and once with Coryza (heavy head cold), before finally dying of shell wounds to his face, right thigh and left arm on 2 March 1918. Two men from the 7th Rifle Brigade died of wounds on this day, and on the previous day five had been killed in action.

The Ewell Parish Magazine dated May 1918 included the following words: "It is with deepest regret that we have to record the death through wounds on 2 March of Fred Imber. He was one of the very first to volunteer from this end of the parish at the beginning of the war, and he has been at the front for three years. The death adds another to the old boys of our choir who have laid down their lives for the country and the cause of right. The sincere sympathy of all our readers will, we know, be extended to his parents, his brother and sisters. Dulce et decorum est pro patria moria."

Alfred is buried in Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery, V F 15.

His effects returned to his father consisted of photos, belt, cards, cigarette case and a wallet.

His British War medal was sent to his father on 7th February 1921, and his Victory medal on 19th July 1921.