Overton, Alfred Arnold

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Alfred Arnold Overton

400720, Private, 2/7th Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force)
Died of wounds, 23 July 1917, aged 33
Buried at Coxyde Military Cemetery, Koksidje, Belgium

CWGC registered (Husband of Margaret Mary Overton, of 8, Watling St, Llanrwst, Denbighshire)

HE HAS FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND GAINED AN ETERNAL CROWN

Alfred Arnold Overton was born in Aston Manor, Warwickshire in 1883. He was the youngest son of William Overton, a brass founder, and his wife [Athaliah] Ann Overton (née Peakman). The Census for 1891 records the family still living at Aston but ten years later, it was living at 2 Trefriw Terrace, Trefriw, Caernarfonshire – William Overton being described as a house painter and Alfred (17) described as a postman. Alfred worked at Llanrwst General Post Office and transferred to Llandudno circa 1905. On 13 November 1907, Alfred married Margaret Mary Jones of Llanrwst at the Llandudno Presbyterian Church. The Census of Wales for 1911 records Alfred, Margaret and their son William Hugh Overton living at “Craig-y-nos”, Grove Terrace, [Winllan Avenue,] Llandudno. Alfred was still employed as a postman.

Alfred Overton’s service record no longer exists though Soldiers Died in the Great War gives his regimental numbers as 5734 Royal Welsh Fusiliers and 400720 Manchester Regiment. The regimental number 5734 was used several times by the RWF but a possible scenario is that because Alfred Overton enlisted at Llandudno, on this occasion it was issued by the 6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion of the Territorial Force, specifically the 2/6th at the end of October 1916, in which case he would have been conscripted. Later, Alfred Overton was transferred to the Manchester Regiment. His regimental number of 400720 was issued by 28th Battalion (Territorial Force – a home service unit) though this may have replaced an earlier number. Alfred Overton was then posted to either the 1/9th or the 2/7th Battalion (TF) in France. (See note below.)

Alfred Overton was wounded in action and he died of those wounds aged 33 on 23 July 1917 whilst serving with the 2/7th MR. He was buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery. On the day he died, the 2/7th MR was at Oostduinkerke, only a mile or two from where he was buried which suggests that he died before being evacuated. The war diary for 23 July records that nine men were killed that day, three by poison gas.

Alfred’s son, William Hugh Overton died in 1920. Margaret Overton’s address a little later was recorded as 8 Watling Street, Llanrwst.

Known memorials:

• Llandudno Roll of Honour
• Llandudno War Memorial
• Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
• English Presbyterian Church, Llandudno
• St. Paul’s Church, Craig-y-Don
• Llanrhos Parish War Memorial, All Saints’ Church, Deganwy
• Parents’ headstone, Trefriw

Note:

Soldiers Died in the Great War lists Alfred Overton as being in the 1/9th Manchester Regiment. Other records (medal rolls, effects’ record, CWGC) recorded him being in the 2/7th. A check of the war diaries of both battalions indicates that at the time, the 1/9th was training at Courcelles-le-Compte, a few miles south of Arras whereas the 2/7th was holding the line on the Belgian coast. It is conceivable that Alfred had been posted to the 1/9th and was attached to the 2/7th. A contemporary newspaper report of the time confirms that at the time of his death, Alfred was attached to the 2/7th.