6401682 Private Alfred Clifton BIRD – The Felpham History Group

1^st Bn., Suffolk Regiment

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2054156/alfred-clifton-bird/

In 1939 Private BIRD enlisted into the Royal Sussex Regiment, in 1944 he was transferred to the 4th Battalion The Kings Shropshire Light Infantry and finally on an unknown date to the 1st Battalion The Suffolk Regiment.

6406182 PRIVATE
A.C.BIRD
THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT
8TH JANUARY 1945. AGE 28

BLESSED
ARE THE PURE IN HEART
FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD
(Image from Find A Grave)

1921 census

Alfred “Arthur” Bird, 4 years & 10 months, was living in a Boarding House with his father Reuben Clifton, 32, a Postman & his mother, Bertha Nellie, also 32 and his older sister Kathleen Alice, 7 years & 10 months. They are the 4th to 7th entries. The Head of the House was Eleanor Elizabeth Pope, a Boarding House Keeper.

Did Alfred change his name at some time from Arthur to Clifton, his father’s name, or is there a mistake on the census? The details on the census, i.e. his mothers, Bertha Nellie, and his sisters, Kathleen Alice, christian names match those on his probate (q.v.)
The Civil Registration Birth Index shows Alfred C.

His enlistment into the Royal Sussex Regiment
2nd entry;- 6401682, 10.7.39, BIRD, Alfred Clifton, Transferred to 4th Bn., K.S.L.I. (Kings Shropshire Light Infantry), 17.4.44 Serial 262

Personal Headstone memorials
Venray War Cemetery Holland
1059/1 A/8 VI.D.12 415 (left hand column, final entry)
6401682 Private
A.C.BIRD

Graves Registration Report Form
Venray War Cemetery
Plot VI Row D, entry 12

6401682 Pte. A.C.BIRD, The Suffolk Regiment, 8.1.45

GRAVES CONCENTRATION REPORT FORM
VENRAIJ WAR CEMETERY

SUFFOLK (Regt.) 6401682 BIRD A.C., Pte., 8.1.45
K/A (Killed in Action), Plot VI, Row D, Grave 12, Reburial 16.9.46 Previous burial location Meerlo Holland
3rd entry

GRAVES CONCENTRATION REPORT FORM

SUFFOLK (Regt.) 6401682 BIRD A.C., Pte., 8.1.45
Plot VI, Row D, Grave 12 Previous burial location Meerlo Holland
3rd entry

Index to Venray War Cemetery, Holland

BIRD, Pte., Alfred Clifton, 6401682, 1st Bn., The Suffolk Regt.,
8th January 1945, Age 28. Son of Bertha Nellie BIRD, of Felpham, Sussex
V1 D 12
(Column 2 6th entry)

The Croydon Roll of Honour
BIRD Alfred C., 6401682, Pte., Suffolk Rgt.,
b., Croydon, Res., Sussex. In a., W.Europe Campaign, ’44-‘45
8 Jan., ‘45
(Right hand page, third entry)

Probate

BIRD Alfred Clifton of 55 Homefield-Avenue Felpham Bognor Regis Sussex died 8 January 1945 on war service Probate Winchester 31 August to Bertha Nellie Bird (wife of Reuben Bird) and Kathleen Alice Parsons (wife of John Allan Parsons) Effects £201 4s 6d

(Entry right hand page, right hand column, 9th entry)

“The 1939 Register, set up so that members of the public could register for identity cards & later ration books, is very difficult to read for Bertha Nellie Bird or her children in Felpham.

It appears to say HURSTWOOD ESTATE, 55 Home Nest, Homefield Avenue, 206, BIRD, Bertha ?, Age & birth date unreadable. Unpaid Domestic Relief. There is also a young boy Robert ? A further two where “This record is officially closed, i.e. have been redacted”. These were probably children, but whose.?

Bertha’s son Alfred does not appear on this Register as by 29^th September 1939, the date of Registration, he had already enlisted in The Royal Sussex Regiment.

We have searched for 55, Homefield Avenue in Felpham several times but there are no numbers even nearing 55″.

Venray War Cemetery Holland