Selected Biographies

Shepherd, Alexander John – Born: Loughton, Essex on 25.1.1902.[1]  Parents: Alfred Theobald Shepherd of Long Melford (Farm Bailiff) [see details below] and Rosina Grace [née Bennett].  Home: Chimney Corner, High Street, Lindfield, Sussex (1911), Vectis House, High Street, Haywards Heath, Sussex (1939).  Occupation: Corn and Coal Merchant (1939).  Married: Mildred Abbott in 1938.  Service Record: Alexander joined the Royal Naval Reserve from 1920 to 1924 as an Apprentice N^o.218824.[2]  Died: Haywards Heath, Sussex in 1985.

Shepherd, Alfred Theobald – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1865.  Parents: John Shepherd (Cab Driver) and Frances [née Theobald].  Family Connections: Father to Alexander John Shepherd [b1902].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1871 to 1881), 12 Queensbury Mews, Kensington, London (1891), Chimney Corner, High Street, Lindfield, Sussex (1911 to 1921), Backwoods Lane, Haywards Heath, Sussex (1939), 5 Sidney Road, Haywards Heath [1956].  Occupation: Packer in Candle Factory (1881), Coachman (1891), Farm and Estate Bailiff (1911), Estate Manager (1921).  Married: Rosina Grace Bennett in 1894.  Service Record: Alfred became a British Red Cross Volunteer in 1915 serving as a Night Orderly at Redlands Hospital in Lindfield until December 1918.[3]  Died: Haywards Heath, Sussex on 22.4.1956.[4]

Shepherd, Herbert George – Born: in 1891.  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford [1915], 30 Cranbourne Road, Stratford, Essex [1919].  Occupation: Labourer in a Rubber Works [1915].  Service Record: Herbert enlisted on 19.10.1915 as Pte.22130 with 10^th [Reserve] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring on 21.12.1916 as Gnr.141889 to the Royal Garrison Artillery [RGA].  He was promoted to Sergeant and posted to France with 119^th Siege Battery, RGA from 25.5.1918 being wounded in the right eye on 29.8.1918 and returned to England for treatment.  He was transferred to the Army Reserve in February 1919.[5]

Notes – [1] 1939 Register.  [2] Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1918-1941 [ref: BT350/ 218824].  Image courtesy of the National Archives at Kew.  [3] British Red Cross Society Volunteers 1914-1918.  [4] National Probate Calendar.  [5] No definitive birth record has been found.  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].