ALFRED PERCY SELF
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 – 1916.
Born: 1891, Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Baptised on the 1st March 1891, at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, Aldeburgh, Suffolk – family home in Aldeburgh.
Died: 3rd July 1916; age 25; KiA.
Evening Star – Tuesday, 17th October 1916 – Lance Corporal Alfred Percy Self, 12410, of the Suffolk Regiment, of 407, Bramford Road, Ipswich, was first reported wounded and missing on the 3rd July 1916, now reported killed on that date.
Residence: 407, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 30th May 1915 – France.
Rank: Lance Corporal; Service Number: 12410
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Pier & Face 1C & 2A.
Somme,
France.
Relatives Notified and Address: Son of Alice E. Self, of 98, Richmond Road, Ipswich, and the late Thomas B. Self.
Brother to FREDERICK WILLIAM SELF.
CENSUS
1891 Marsh Lane, Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Alfred was 2 months old and living with his mother, stepbrother, brother and maternal uncle & aunt.
Alice Elizabeth Self (nee Hines), 23, born Saxmundham, Suffolk.
John Thomas Self, 21, born Aldeburgh.
Frederick William Self, 1, born Aldeburgh.
James Hines, 25, born Saxmundham.
Agnes Honor Hines, 15, born Sternfield, Suffolk.
1901 20, Riverside Road, Ipswich.
Alfred was 10 years old and living with his mother, stepbrother, brother, stepsiblings and paternal cousin. (Frederick and Alfred’s mother and stepbrother were now a couple with their own children).
John, 31, a Chemical Manure Labourer.
Elizabeth, 32.
Frederick, 11.
Robert Farrington Self, 7, born Ipswich.
Emma Agnes Self, 3, born Ipswich.
Arthur John Self, 7 months, born Ipswich.
William Thomas Self, 17, a Steel Cutter – Stay Factory, born Aldeburgh.
1911 407, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
Alfred was 20 years old, a Chemical Manure Labourer. He was living with his mother, stepbrother, and stepsiblings.
John, 41, a Chemical Manure Labourer.
Elizabeth, 42.
Frederick, 21, a House Painter.
Emma, 13.
Arthur, 10.
Alice May Self, 8, born Ipswich.
Wilfred Frank Self, 6, born Ipswich.
George Henry Self, 2, born Ipswich.
Alfred’s father was Thomas Butcher Self, born 1838 in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Thomas was first married in January 1861, at Aldeburgh, to Eliza Pearce Butcher. Eliza Self died in December 1872 and was buried on Christmas Eve, 1872, aged 32.
Thomas Butcher Self, a fisherman, lost his life on the 17th May 1892, supposedly drowned, when the vessel “Alfred and Louisa,” a cod smack, was lost by a collision (cutting her in two) with the Airlie, of Glasgow, bound for Dundee, laden with 2,000 tons of jute from Calcutta.
Alfred’s paternal uncle and cousin were also lost in the collision – Robert Francis Self, aged 51, was the Master of Alfred and Louisa, and Robert’s 17 year old son, Henry James Self, an Ordinary Seaman.
Soldiers’ Effects to Alice E. Self – mother.
Alfred is also remembered on the war memorial at Springfield School, Ipswich.
……
ALFRED and LOUISA
Norwich Mercury – Thursday, 28th May 1892 – Anxiety is expressed for the safety of the cod smack Alfred and Louisa, of Aldeburgh, which left Aldeburgh Bay on Saturday, 14th May, for the fishing-ground off Yarmouth, and the time of whose anticipated return has expired.
E.A.D.T. – Monday, 6th June 1892 – LOSS OF AN ALDEBURGH SMACK AND ALL HANDS – All hopes are now given up of the return of the Alfred and Louisa, which left Aldeburgh Bay to complete the season’s fishing off the Smith’s Knowl Sands, to the north of Great Yarmouth. The smack had a crew of eight, including the skipper, Mr. Robert Self, who was greatly respected, not only by his townsmen, but also by all the people of the different ports of the East Coast. He was considered one of the most able and skilful skippers afloat. The Whitsuntide holidays in the town of Aldeburgh bring dire distress in many a home – children deprived of their parents, whilst parents have lost a flower of the family. The fleet of smacks at Aldeburgh Quay is all flying their flags half-mast, out of respect for their drowned comrades.
E.A.D.T. – Friday, 24th June 1892 – THE SUPPOSED RUNNING DOWN OF AN ALDEBURGH SMACK – The Board of Trade enquiry, which was opened at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, at Lowestoft, on Wednesday, 22nd June into the circumstances of the supposed running down of the Aldeburgh smack Alfred and Louisa by the sailing ship Airlie, of Dundee, in the North Sea, on the morning of the 17th May, was resumed on Thursday, 23rd June. The captain of the Airlie, George Sharer, having been cross-examined at considerable length, Iven Ivenson, a Norwegian sailmaker aboard the Airlie, was called, and stated that he saw a white light through his cabin window. On going on deck, he observed a small fishing vessel over the port quarter. Directly afterwards, the collision occurred. He heard cries proceeding from the wreckage, but he failed to discern any men in the darkness. When he left the Airlie at Dundee, he received a “bad” discharge. John R. Logie, one of the crew, gave similar testimony. He heard Pars, the man responsible for the look-out, shout something in broken English and become very excited, and directly afterwards the Airlie crashed into the smack. The captain was not on deck at the moment of the collision, but he appeared directly afterwards. An apprentice named McBoyne, whose duty it was to look after the sidelights, stated that directly after the collision, the port light went out, and no sooner had he retrimmed it than the starboard light was also extinguished.
Frank Pearce, seaman, in charge of the wheel, stated that two lifebuoys were thrown to the wreckage, but no attempt was made to launch any of the boats. He thought the Airlie was making 14 knots at the time of the accident. The master and several members of the crew of the Aldeburgh smack Bonnie Lass deposed to having seen the Alfred and Louisa in the vicinity of Smith’s Knowl on the night previous to the collision. Her sidelights were then burning brightly.
Henry Harving, joint owner with John Spinks of the ill-fated smack, stated that she left Aldeburgh Bay on the 14th May for the fishing grounds, and had not since been heard of. The Alfred and Louisa carried seven hands, all of whom there was little reason to doubt had perished. Her master and two of her crew were married.
Norfolk Chronicle – Saturday, 2nd July 1892 – Commander Reeve, in giving the decision of the court, said the master of the Airlie was held to be indefault in allowing an unsuitable man to keep the look out, and in not lowering his boats, he displayed most reprehensible indifference as to the result of the collision. The court accordingly suspended his certificate for three months, though the assessors did not concur in the suspension.
Through Mr. George Kersey, hon. secretary at Aldeburgh of the Royal Shipwrecked Fishermen’s Society, the sum of £9 10s. has been sent and distributed for the immediate wants of the widows and orphans left by the collision in which the smack Alfred and Louisa was run down.
E.A.D.T. – Saturday, 16th July 1892 – The crew consisted of three married men – leaving three widows and nine dependent children, and five young men, aged from 15 to 20 years. At a meeting at the Vicarage, a Local Committee resolved to try and raise a Fund for the Sufferers. The widows and orphans will be received first; but should the fund reach £300, the case of the young men will also be considered.
Donations will be thankfully received by the Reverend Arthur Webster Houghton, Ripon Villa, Aldeburgh, Treasurer; or may be paid into the Alfred and Louisa Relief Fund Account at Messrs. Gurneys and Co.’s Bank.
E.A.D.T. Tuesday, 9th August 1892 – The subscription started to aid the distressed widows and orphans left by the loss of the Aldeburgh smack Alfred and Louisa, was responded to nobly by the principal leading inhabitants of the borough, and about £270 was collected. A meeting of the Relief Committee was called at the Vicarage on Monday, 8th August, when the division of the sums agreed to be paid was reported. Mrs. Alice Elizabeth Self and her children received £165 – £55 to Alice and £110 to the children.
Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion:
The 7th Battalion Suffolk Regiment lost many Ipswich men during day 3 of the offensive. On July 1st, at 7.30 am, the Battle of the Somme started.
That day was a terrible and tragic day, out of the 1000’s of British and Commonwealth men who went ‘over the top’ to attack the German positions, 19,340 were killed, and 38,500 were wounded.
“On 2 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 7th Battalion was moved up to the British front line trenches. On 3rd July, as part of the 35th Brigade, along with the 5th Royal Berkshires, the 7th Suffolk’s Battalion took part in a two-brigade frontal attack on Ovillers. Zero hour was set for 03.15 am. The first four waves reached the enemies’ third line of defence, where, after meeting very stiff resistance, the attack stalled. Due to the darkness, the succeeding waves lost touch and were unable to assist. Casualties numbered 470, including all company commanders killed.” The remnants of the Battalion remained in the trenches until 8 July.
Extract from the history of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-27. by Lt-C0l.C.C.R .Murphy.
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