9948: Alfred Poole
Alfred was born in Liverpool on 15th November 1886. He had been in the 6th Kings Territorials for 4 years prior to the First World War. In 1911 he was a cotton clerk. He was working as a bookkeeper at the Liverpool docks when he enlisted in 1916. He was awarded a certificate of proficiency as a proficient clerk on 4th December 1918. This was signed off by the Director of Railway Traffic, giving him � rate of Engineers Pay.
He started as a Pioneer in 1916 in the Royal Engineers Railway Troop, before joining the King's (Liverpool Regiment) regiment number 58636, then becoming a 2 Cpl in Royal Engineers, regiment number 218045 in 1919. He was also in the 23rd Works Regiment, regiment number WR/262325.
The family have a cigarette case with the regiment crest with initials on the reverse.
He worked on the trench railways before becoming a Traffic Officer on the railways on the Western Front. The family say he was attacked at least once. On 26th January 1917 he and his wife Evelyn had twins: Alfred Raymond and Beatrice Grace.
He was discharged on 12th April 1919 and returned as a clerk at the Liverpool docks. He was a cotton works manager in 1939. Alfred died in 1960.