Hello
Apologies if you already have this information.
Alfred was born at Dromore and enlisted at Belfast, living at Finaghy.
Alfred served with The Royal Irish Rifles. His service number was 7491.
He was a member of the 14th Battalion, 109th Brigade of the famous 36th (Ulster) Division.
The battalion was the famous 'Young Citizen Volunteers'.
By July 1915 the Division was in England and of course by July 1916 was in action at Thiepval.
The battle of Messines is particularly interesting from an Ulster military perspective in that the 36th fought side by side with the 16th (Irish).
The battle lasted from 07/06/17 - 14/06/17 with the infantry advance starting at about 0310 hours. The 36th and 16th captured the village of Wytschaete that day and it is probably during that battle that Alfred was lost.
He appears to be commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as
W A Massey with Sarah, his wife living at 19 City Street, Belfast.
His mother, Emma, 1 Henderson's Row, Belfast applied for his medals in 1923.
He is buried in SPANBROEKMOLEN BRITISH CEMETERY, Belguim, grave D1.
Regards
David
