Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Colledge a shoe trade worker, born 1856 in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire and his wife Dinah Colledge (nee Rowley, married in the 1st quarter of 1881 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1857 in Barwell, Leicestershire. Alfred was born in the 1st quarter of 1885 in Enderby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Alice, born 1879 in Barwell, Elizabeth, born 1881, Ada, born 1883 and Annie, born 1888, the latter three siblings were all born in Enderby, in April 1891 the family home was at Poyners City, Enderby. In March 1901 Alfred was employed as a quarry stone breaker and was residing in the family home at Cornwall Street, Enderby, together with his father, a shoe trade riveter, his mother and siblings, Elizabeth, a Griswold knitter, Ada, a Griswold knitter, Annie, a yarn winder, Edith, born 1891, Emma, born 1896 and Nellie, born 1899, the latter three siblings were all born in Enderby. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as a concrete worker and was residing in the family home at Croft, Leicestershire, together with his wife Mercy Colledge (nee Smith, married on the 23rd June 1910 in the parish church, Croft, Leicestershire), born 20th January 1894 in Croft, and their daughter Catherine, born 4th December 1910 in Croft. Alfred and Mercy also had a son Cecil, who was born on the 23rd January 1916 in Croft. Mercy married William H. Day, in the 2nd quarter of 1923 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, William was born on the 17th September 1887, in 1939 they were residing with Cecil at Petersfield, Croft.
The War Diary records: 8 Jun-17 – FRONT LINE. 9.30 am. Enemy reported massing on our front. A patrol strength one platoon under 2nd Lieutenant HIGGS was sent out to reconnoitre in neighbourhood of VAN HOVE FARM. The patrol was much troubled by snipers, but was unable to locate the enemy in any force. Having cleared the ground of snipers in this vicinity, it returned to the support line.
10.45am. Battalion came under heavy shell fire, men temporarily thinned out in the trenches they occupied, whilst reconnaissance was made for further positions.
The BORDER REGIMENT was withdrawn right back, and the Battalion was ordered to move into the support trenches vacated by them under cover of darkness.
8.45pm. The day was quiet, but at 8.45pm our position was heavily shelled. The Commanding Officer – Lieutenant Colonel D. T. SECKHAM, D.S.O. was amongst the wounded. Captain F. B. MORRIS temporarily assumed Command.
The War Diary records: 11 Jun-17 – Brigade Reserve near SPY FARM, 500 yards East of LINDENHOEK.
The following casualties were sustained during the action between June 7th and 10th.
KILLED:
9102 Pte. THOMASON, F., 18945 Pte. HILL, A., 13261 Pte. BAKER, A., 32719 Pte. WALL, W., 2nd Lt. E. N. COXE, 10813 Pte. GIBBS, C., 32558 Pte. COLLIDGE, A., 14713 Pte. HARRIS, W. E., 40189 Pte. GRIFFITHS, A., 18502 Pte. GUEST, G., 18319 L.Cpl. JONES, W., 18452 Pte. WEAVER, T., 18267 Pte. HARRIS, S., 32551 Pte. BROWN, W. L., 18257 Pte. FLETCHER, W. E., 28272 Pte. BROADHURST, C., 32727 L.Cpl. TERRY, E., 17779 Pte. POTTS, G., 15436 Pte. COX, J. R., 24541 Pte. LANGSTON, J., 23462 Pte. TILLEY, J. T., 32963 Pte. WESTON, J., 17760 Pte. BALDOCK, W., 19582 Pte. FERNEYHOUGH, F., 11297 Pte. TODD, A., 18617 Sgt. BAUGH, D.
TOTAL 1 Officer and 25 Other Ranks.
WOUNDED:
Lt. Col. D. T. SECKHAM, D.S.O., 23043 L.Cpl. HULGARTH, C. H., 19096 Pte. PAGETT, J., 2nd Lt. J. F. F. FREEMAN., 13170 Pte. ALLEN, W., 23865 Pte. PLANT, J., 2nd Lt. H. SUMMERCALE, 16600 Pte. BOWATER, W., 10476 Pte. PLANT, J., Capt. I. CAMPBELL, R.A.M.C. (Att.), 32556 Pte. BROMHAM, G., 18434 Pte. SMITH, J., 6326 Sgt. BAGGOTT, S., 32559 Pte. CLAYTON, A. E., 202358 Pte. GAMSON, A., 13900 Pte. COOK, A., 24421 Pte. COLES, S., 16712 Pte. TAYLOR, W., 19316 Pte. BUSWELL, F., 14904 Pte. CORNISH, B., 11496 Pte. EMGAT, R., 19166 Pte. ATKINS, J., 32560 Pte. COOKE, J. T., 40210 Pte. ROSS, W., 40605 Pte. JOHNSON, F. S., 22430 Pte. SPIVEY, F. H., 9469 L.Cpl. POOLE, W., 18209 Pte. JUDSON, J., 18604 Pte. SHUTT, W., 29554 Pte. HARVEY, J., 5995 Pte. PHILLIPS, J. T., 9270 Pte. SOUTHALL, J., 17286 Pte. THOMPSON, W., 30766 Pte. PRICE, S. A., 16753 Pte. SELVEY, J., 23953 Pte. WOODALL, J. J., 8965 Pte. JEFFRIES, G., 12647 Pte. HILLARD, J., 24887 Pte. MASON, J., 9393 Sgt. GARDNER, F., 12099 Pte. MATTHEWS, C., 32934 Pte. SELBY, S. G., 18180 L.Cpl. BELL, G. W., 15488 Pte. UPTON, C., 25225 Pte. TREVOR, J., 9906 L.Cpl. DUNN, S. J., 13125 Pte. INGRAM, T., 18609 Pte. SHELDON, J., 18607 Pte. ROBINSON, W., 10169 Pte. HAYFIELD, W. (with unit), 28240 Pte. GIBSON, H. V., 11143 Pte. MARLOW, A., 9721 Pte. GUEST, G., 14207 Pte. FOX, A. G., 30821 Pte. BURTON, S. (with unit), 17790 Pte. TIGHE, S., 9804 Pte. BUCKERFIELD, W. (with unit), 32514 Pte. HOLMES, G. L., 16708 Pte. COOPER, J., 23143 Pte. WARD, F. G., 8845 Pte. BATCHELOR, 25912 Pte. PARKER, A., 9024 Pte. WHITE, W., 17602 Pte. SIMMS, H., 18193 Pte. GREENHOUSE, J., 3213 Pte. HEBRON, R., 30817 Pte. NEW, J. H., 17825 Pte. MORRIS, J., 24855 Pte. MELLOR, J., 19498 Pte. WINKETT, R., 16868 Pte. ASTON, W., 17563 Pte. WILLIAMS, G. W., 32724 Pte. HUTTON, J., 16887 Pte. BARKER, W., 16735 Pte. SMITH, R., 17881 Pte. ROBERTS, J., 9496 Pte. ARCHER, H., 16393 Pte. WOOD, W., 16489 Pte. MAYNE, J., 17386 Pte. CHARLES, J., 18478 Pte. HEATH, E., 8563 Pte. DICKENS, F. S., 9930 Pte. HADEN, S., 28244 Pte. PERRY, F., 23824 Pte. MATTHEWS, W. S., 29701 Pte. FLAVELL, R. E.