Alfred Aloysius Angel

Second-Lieutenant, Machine Gun Corps

Age 15, Class IV C: 'Very hardworking & intelligent boy - one of the best.'

Alfred Aloysius Angel was 24 years old when he joined the British Expeditionary Force in November 1915. Before the war, he worked for the London County Council and lived at 51 Dulwich Road with his wife, Ethel Cecilia Angel. After being declared fit for service, Alfred was posted to the Machine Gun Corps of the British Army as a Second-Lieutenant. He was mobilised on 7th August 1916 and served in France and Belgium with 36th Battalion until the end of the war. As part of the Machine Gun Corps, Alfred was involved in the final advance on Flanders in October 1918. During this action, Alfred showed considerable courage and devotion to duty when he successfully checked a German counter-attack with a single machine gun. As a result of his actions, Alfred was awarded the Military Cross – an award given in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land.