ALFRED HENRY TRENCH
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Image from the Suffolk Chronicle And Mercury – 1917
Born: 31st May 1881, at Malta Villas, Croft Street, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 28th August 1881, at St. Mary Stoke Church, Ipswich, with his sister, Elizabeth Julia Trench, born 17th October 1879 – family home at Croft Street, Ipswich.
Died: 17th February 1917; age 35; KiA.
Residence: 2, Dorkin Street, Ipswich.
Occupation: Postman.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 50225
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 8th Battalion.
Formerly 34962, Suffolk Regiment.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
The body remained in an Unknown British Soldier’s grave until discovered in April 1919 by a Canadian Burial Party. The body was exhumed, identified and reburied at Regina Trench Cemetery.
Grave Reference:
VIII.C.7.
Grandcourt,
Somme,
France.
CENSUS
1891 Glebe Cottage, Rectory Road, Ipswich.
Alfred was 9 years old and living with his widowed father and siblings.
James Alexander Trench, 50, an Engine Fitter, born St. Peter’s, Derby, Derbyshire.
Charles Hodges Trench, 19, an Engine Fitter, born Enfield Lock, Middlesex.
Talitha Trench, 15, born Enfield Lock.
Sidney John Trench, 13, born Ipswich.
Elizabeth Julia Trench, 11, born Ipswich.
Alice Emily Trench, 7, born Ipswich.
Jessie Ethel Trench, 4, born Ipswich.
1901 47, Fritzroy Street, Ipswich.
Alfred was 19 years old, a Grocer’s Assistant. He was living with his sister 25 year old Talitha & her husband, Frederick James Minns, and their month-old son, Frederick Minns.
1911 2, Dorkin Street, Ipswich.
Alfred was 29 years old, a Grocer – employer. He was married and head of the household.
Maude, 28, Assisting in the business.
Herbert, 5.
Stanley.
Alfred’s mother was Elizabeth Trench (nee Hickford), born 1846, in Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire – died on the 3rd September 1889, at her home, Glebe Cottage, Rectory Road, Ipswich and was buried on the 7th September, at Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Alfred’s father, James Alexander Trench, died in November 1911, at 46, Pauline Street, Ipswich. The funeral service was held on the 2nd December, at St. Mary Stoke Church, Ipswich, before burial at Ipswich Old Cemetery.
In 1904, in Manningtree, Essex, Alfred married Blanche Maud Taylor, born September 1881, Manningtree – daughter of Robert Taylor, a domestic gardener, and Elizabeth Taylor (nee Crisp), of Manningtree.
Blanche and Alfred had four children:
Herbert Alfred Trench, born on New Year’s Eve, 1905, Ipswich.
Stanley Clifford Trench, born September 1909, Ipswich.
Ida Mabel Trench, born August 1912, Ipswich.
Kathleen Maud Trench, born 1915, Ipswich.
Probate to Maud Blanche Trench – widow, of 9, Fairlight Street, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effect Maud Blanche Trench – widow.
Blanche’s youngest brother also lost his life during the First World War. Clifford Taylor was killed in action on the 14th April 1917, aged 20. He was ranked a Private, service number 34171, of the Essex Regiment, 1st Battalion. In March 1924, the body was discovered at Hamblain-Les-Pres Communal Cemetery, Germany and identified by the clothing and buttons before reburial at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France.
Alfred is also remembered on the war memorial at the Royal Mail Centre, Commercial Road, Ipswich.
Ipswich Journal – Saturday, 2nd November 1895 – A MISCHIEVOUS PRACTICE – Alfred Trench, aged 14, of 12, Wherstead Road, Ipswich, pleaded Guilty to throwing a stone in Rectory Road, on Thursday, 24th October, when he appeared before the Mayor of Ipswich, Dr. John Henry Bartlet, the Deputy Mayor, Samuel Richard Anness, Mr. John May, Mr. Benjamin Page Grimsey, Mr. William Alexander and Mr. William Orford White at the Ipswich Police Court on Monday, 28th October. Evidence was given by another boy that a stone was thrown at a door deliberately by Alfred Trench, and that the annoyance in the road was a persistent one. Alfred’s brother said the boy bore a very good character and had never got into such trouble before. He was a member of St. Mary Stoke choir and worked for Mr. Joseph Turner, a grocer, of 110 – 121, Fore Street, Ipswich. Alfred was fined 5s.
17th February the 8th Battalion: extracts from Suffolk Regiment records:
“On the 17th the advance towards Miraumont began,8th battalion 05:45 am under very trying weather conditions, severe frost which lasted for a month suddenly breaking on the eve of the battle and rapid thaw converting the ground into a morass of the worst description. very few duckboard tracks existed there at the time, and the nearest hut being over two miles from the front line, the carrying parties had a most difficult task. The process of forming up for attack had to be carried out at night in a thick mist and under a hostile barrage as well-zero hour having become known to the enemy. The battalion gained its objectives quickly despite stubborn fighting in the front of the uncut wire, and the leading waves succeeded in establishing themselves within a few hundred yards of Petit Miraumont. The work of consolidation was rendered less difficult by the mist, which prevented enemy observation and permitted freer movement across the open than normally possible.
In the action, which reflected the greatest credit on all ranks of the 8th Battalion, one incident stands out conspicuously. Seeing his company held up by the wire, L/Cpl. W. Savage with seven men having discovered a small gap therein, rushed fearlessly through into the enemy’s trench, killing with his own hands the first four Germans he met and effecting the surrender of the rest of the party, which consisted of fourteen men with a machine gun L/Cpl. Savage received the DCM. The casualties in the Battalion amounted to 130 men. This victory marked the beginning of the retreat to the Hindenburg line.”
Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 by Lt-Col. C.C.R.Murphy
Suffolk Regiment, 8th Battalion
One Comment
Thank you so much for posting this.
This brave soul is my Great Grandfather. I’ve been searching for information and this has just unlocked a door into a life, and death, I thought I would never uncover. We’ll always honour what he and his brothers-in-arms suffered and ultimately sacrificed in that appalling conflict. We owe them all so much. I’m going to take a Suffolk rose to my Great Grandfather’s grave this summer so there is a piece of his home where he rests.
Thank you again for finding out this information and publishing it, it means so much.