Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Emma Hinchliffe, a baker and shop keeper, born 1863 in Long Whatton, Leicestershire. Alfred was born in 1896 in Shepshed, Leicestershire, his siblings were Charles, born 1893 and Evelyn Mary, born 1898, both his siblings were born in Shepshed, in March 1901 the family home was at Bull Ring, Shepshed. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as an engineer at the Brush Company and was residing in the family home at Queen Street, Shepshed, together with his widowed mother, a baker and confectioner and his siblings, Charles, assisting in the family business and Evelyn, a schoolgirl.
Alfred attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of (3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve. If the man completes his 3 years service with the Colours while beyond the seas, he will be sent home, with all convenient speed, for transfer to the Army Reserve.) on the 4th September 1914 in Loughborough. He gave his place of birth as Shepshed, Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 2 months and his trade or calling as fitter. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother, Emma Hinchliffe, his brother Charles Hinchliffe and sister Evelyn Mary Hinchliffe all of Queen Street, Shepshed, Loughborough as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was -?- in height, weighed 115 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 30½ and 33 inches. His complexion was described as fresh. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 4th September 1914 in Loughborough. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8/13989 on the 4/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 24/9/14. Admitted to the 48th Field Ambulance, in the field suffering from shrapnel wounds to both legs, chest and head on the 3/2/16. Died of wounds on the 3/2/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 4/9/14 – 28/7/15, 328 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 3/2/16, 190 days. Total service 1 year 153 days. Alfred was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Alfred’s mother Emma Hinchliffe on the 14th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Henry Collard, Baptist Minister, Garendon Road, Shepshed on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Emma Hinchliffe of Queen Street, Shepshed. Full blood brother of soldier, Charles Hinchliffe, age 25 of Queen Street, Shepshed. Full blood sister of soldier, Evelyn Mary Hinchliffe, age 20 of Queen Street, Shepshed. Alfred’s surviving service documents are in a very 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.
The War Diary records: 3 Feb-16 - 300 men for work parties. “D” Company in morning did Company platoon arm saluting drill, and practised fixing of smoke helmets. “D” Company in afternoon marched off with band to Divisional theatre. Men of “C” Company not on work parties fired on the range under Lt. WARNER. The same men practised the same work as “B” Company did in the morning. No. 16 platoon received grenade instruction in the morning and the new band was playing in the courtyard near canteen. The enemy heavily shelled the village for about ½ an hour, all troops and civilian inhabitants were ordered to caverns and caves. One shell fell and exploded near gateway of courtyard killing and wounding, several other men killed and wounded in other parts of the village. 20 were killed and 13 wounded. 3 of the latter died on admittance to Field Ambulance. 9 of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were killed in all, and 2 officers and 6 other ranks wounded. 1 ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS officer was killed, 7 other ranks of the ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY and 1 ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. One civilian inhabitant was killed and one wounded. The Divisional Commander arrived in the village from the trenches shortly after the bombardment had ceased. Most parts of the village including the FRENCH quarter was shelled.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday February 11th, 1916

SHEPSHED

Mrs Hinchcliffe, widow, Queen Street, Shepshed, has received information that her son, Private Alfred Hinchcliffe, (13989) was killed during a bombardment in France on Friday last. Private Hinchcliffe joined Lord Kitchener’s Army about a month after the outbreak of the war and went to France about July last. He was not quite 21 years of age. Previous to joining the colours, deceased was employed at the Loughborough Falcon Works.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 11/10/2017