Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Jonah Steele, a bricklayer, born 1843 in Baston, Lincolnshire, who was the son of Thomas Steele, and his wife Sarah A. Steele (nee Dodson, married on the 30th May 1867 in St. Andrew’s Church, Whissendine, Rutland), born 1844 in Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire, who was the daughter of Edward Dodson of Whissendine. Alfred Josiah, a schoolboy, was born in 1878 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Emma Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1869, Edith Lily, a schoolgirl, born 1875, Edmund Horace, a schoolboy, born 1876 and Ernest Dodson, born 1880, all his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, in April 1881 the family home was at 3, New Thorpe, Melton Mowbray. In April 1891 Alfred was residing in the family home at Temperance Terrace, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a builder, his mother and siblings, Emma, Edith, Edmund, Ernest, Selina Eveline, born 18th February 1884 and Ida Winifred S., born 1889, the latter two siblings were both born in Melton Mowbray. In March 1901 Alfred was absent from the family home at 27, Leicester Street, Melton Mowbray, residing there was his father, a builder, his mother and siblings, Edith, Edmund, a builder, Ernest, a builder, Selina and Ida, Alfred was employed as a bricklayer’s labourer, and was residing at 12, Clumber Street, Belmont Terrace, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, this being the family home of his married sister Emma Burbidge and her husband, Thomas Burbidge, a domestic gardener, born 1857 in Leicestershire, and their daughter Winifred, born 1896 in Mansfield. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as a bricklayer and was residing in the family home at 11, Limes Avenue, Melton Mowbray, together with his wife Mary Eleanor Steele (nee Barrass, married on the 2nd November 1904 in Melton Mowbray), born 1883 in Desford, Leicestershire and their children Harold, Josiah born 29th October 1906 and Muriel Eleanor, born 18th March 1910, both children were born in Melton Mowbray, also residing in the family home was a Alfred’s brother-in-law, John Barrass, a woodworking machinist, born 1886 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire. There were two further children born, after the April 1911 census, Gladys Mary, born 23rd July 1912 and Edith Kathleen, born 15th November 1913, both children were born in Melton Mowbray. Alfred’s widow married James Farmery in the 4th quarter of 1924 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district.
Alfred attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 22nd July 1915 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his home address as 11, Limes Avenue, Melton Mowbray, his age as 38 years and 83 days and his trade or calling as platelayer. He stated that he had previously served with the 5th Volunteer Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment from 1894 to 1897. He confirmed that he was married. He gave his wife, Mary Ellen Steele of 11, Limes Avenue, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5 inches in height, weighed 126 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches. His physical development was described as normal. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 23732 on the 23/6/15. Posted to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Barnard Castle on the 7/8/15. Posted with the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment to Rugeley Camp on the 2/11/15. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 14/5/16. Embarked from Devonport to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 14/5/16. Disembarked in Basra on the 13/6/16. Joined the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 30/6/16. Admitted to the Isolation Hospital at Amara dangerously ill on the 8/7/16. Died from enteric fever on the 9/7/16. Alfred was awarded the British War and Victory medals. Alfred’s surviving service documents are in a poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Friday August 25th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MORE MELTONIANS KILLED. – PTE. A. J. STEELE. Much sympathy will be felt for Mrs. Steele, 11, Limes-avenue, Melton Mowbray, in the loss she has sustained by the death of her husband, Private Alfred Josiah Steele, of the Leicestershire Regt., which occurred on the 9th July, at the Persian Gulf, from dysentery. Deceased who was 38 years of age, was a son of the late Mr. E. J. Steele, builder, Leicester-street, and formerly worked for his father. At the time war was declared he was suffering from double pleurisy, and was ill for six months. After his recovery he went to work at the Great Northern station, and met with an accident after having been there three weeks. Deceased continued to work on the railway until July, 1915 when he enlisted in the Leicesters. Having undergone a period of training in England he left for the Persian Gulf on May 13th last, arriving there about June 20th. On arrival he wrote to his wife, but she did not receive the letter until July 27th, or 18 days after his death. Mrs. Steele, who is left with four children first heard that anything was amiss last Tuesday week, when she received the following letter from a hospital nurse:- “Amara, Mesopotamia, July 8th. Mrs. Steele, Dear Madam, I am writing for your husband to say that he is in hospital and wants you to know that he could not write himself, but is doing all right and hopes to be much better next week. He is quite comfortable, and sends his love. He has dysentery and is already better than when he came in, M.A.S.” The worst news arrived last Tuesday afternoon when the following letter was received:- “Infantry Record Office, Lichfield Station, 21st Aug., 1916. Madam, It is my painful duty to inform you that a report has this day been received from the War Office notifying the death of 23732 Pte. Alfred Josiah Steele, - Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, which occurred at the Persian Gulf on the 9th July, 1916, and I am to express the sympathy and regret of the Army Council at your loss. Cause of death, died of disease. I am madam, your obedient servant, G. L. Jacobs, Lieut.”