Pte 24649 Alexander Alfred Dodd

• Age: 19
• From: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• Died Wednesday 2nd June 1915
• Commemorated at: Christchurch Cy Ellesmere Port
  Panel Ref: Old.9.27

Alexander Alfred was born in Great Sutton on 12^th March 1896 and was the son of John James Dodd and his wife Jemima (nee Shaw).

In the 1901 Census the family are living at 6 Stanley Road, Whitby, Ellesmere Port. Father, John James is shown to be a House Painter born in Shoreditch, London in 1856. His wife Jemima was born in Meltham, Yorkshire also in 1856. Alexander Alfred is their youngest child and has 7 siblings at home: Maurice Francis aged 16, Norman Charles aged 14 both born in Huddersfield, Cyril aged 13, Alice Maud Charlotte aged 12, Clarence Dyson aged 10 and John James aged 8 all born in Toxteth, Liverpool. Both Harold Douglas aged 3 and Alexander Alfred were bron in Great Sutton, Cheshire.

By 1911 the family are living at 17 Oak Street, Ellesmere Port. Both parents are still present in the household as are Norman Charles, Cyril, Clarence, Alice Maud Charlotte, John James, Harold and Alexander now 15 and shows as At Home. Also present is a visitor William Crawshaw who went on to marry Alice Maud Charlotte.

Educated at local Church Schools in Ellesmere Port, Alexander then assisted his father in his trade before enlisting at Liverpool on 6^th January 1915 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24649.

Alexander died on 2nd June 1915 in Chester Infirmary after an operation following an illness “contracted while on service” and is buried in Christchurch Graveyard, Ellesmere Port Grave Old.9.27.  

There are 26 First World War burials in the Graveyard. 

The four brothers appeared in a newspaper article around 1915:-

A PATRIOTIC ELLESMERE FAMILY

FOuR SONS WITH THE COLOURS

Mr and Mrs John J. Dodd of Oak Street, Ellesmere Port are pardonably proud of the fact that they have four son's serving with the colours. Reading from right to left our photos are 1) John James Dodd, 9th Cheshire's; 2) Sergeant-Major Gerald J.H., 50th Field Ambulance; 3) Alex A.,  2nd Pals; 4) Harold Douglas, attached to the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, R.A.M.C., now somewhere in Belgium. 

His death was reported in the Chester Chronicle on the 05th June 1915:

DODD - At the Chester Infirmary in his 19th year Alexander Alfred dad second city Battalion youngest son of Mr and Mrs J Dodd 17 Oak Street Ellesmere Port

Details of his funeral were reported in the Chester Chronicle on 12th June 1915

MILITARY FUNERAL

Ellesmere Port parish church was crowded on Saturday, the occasion being the funeral of Private Alexander Alfred Dodd, 2nd City Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment. Full military honours were accorded and the greatest sympathy was shown throughout the district. The hearse was preceded by a firing party of 14 men of the 3rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, in charge of Sergeant Gosling, and a detachment of Private Dodd's own regiment was also in attendance, in charge of Sergeant Gurnery(?). From these, the bearers were provided, their names being Privates A.J.Knight, J.Gillespie, W.Richards, J.McNay, H.Edwards and V.Cooper. The Rev. H. J. Dawson, M.A., officiated and met the cortege on arrival at the churchyard, the firing party being lined up at the entrance. At the close of the service three volleys are fired over the grave, and the bugler sounded the "Last post."  Mr A.Plaistow presided at the organ and played Chopin's Funeral March and the Dead March in Saul. There were many mourners, the principal being Mr and Mrs John James Dodd (father and mother), Sergeant-Major Gerald H.J Dodd, and Mrs Bessie Dodd (son and daughter-in-law), Mr Morris and Mrs Cissie Dodd (son and daughter-in-law), Mrs and Mr Crawshaw (daughter and husband), Messrs. Norman, Cyril, Clarence and Jack Dodd (brothers), Mr and Mrs Howard, Mrs Wilfred Watkins, Miss A.Woods, Mr and Mrs T.Wilding, Mr and Mrs O'Shaughnessy, Mr J.H.Royston, Mr Latham etc. Many floral tributes were sent. The coffin plate bore the inscription, "Alexander Alfred Dodd, died June 2nd 1915, aged 19 years." Mr R.J. Waugh(?) personally superintended the arrangements. The following letter was received by Mr J.J .Dodd from Captain Clarke of the City Battalion Regiment (No. 2 Company),  "By his death we all feel that we have been deprived of a comrade who if he had lived would have been a great credit to his Country and his Regiment." Excellent arrangements for controlling the large crowds were made by Inspector Howie. The greatest sympathy is everywhere felt for Mr and Mrs Dodd and family in their great loss. 

The Chester Chronicle reported on 08th October 1915 

PATRIOTIC SERVICES: THE ROLL OF HONOUR. 

On Sunday the Rev. John Swindon conducted patriotic services in the Queen-street Primitive Methodist Church. Good congregations assembled.The addresses were very appropriate to the occasion. At the evening service the following solos were capitally rendered; “Land of hope and glory,” Mr. C. M. Stockton; “England,dear England,” Mr. James Weedall; and “ There’s a land,” Miss Eva Parry, of Chester. The choir under the conductorship of Mr. Weedall, sang the Allies’ National Anthems, and a special vesper, “In the silence of Thy dwelling,” and John Oxenham’s hymn for the men at the front, “Lord God of hosts, Whose mighty hand," was effectively sung by the whole congregation. Mr. F. B. Humphries officiated the organ. At the conclusion of the address Mr. Swindon read out the roll honour in connection with the Queen-St. Church and Sunday school;

The Rev. gentlemen referred specially to Alexander Dodd of the Liverpool Pals, who died somewhat suddenly whilst in training and was buried at Ellesmere Port with military honours;

Soldiers Effects to his father John James and his pension to his mother Jemima and father.

We currently have no further information on Alexander Alfred Dodd. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.