Alfred Walter Gee

Born: 1886

Died: 30 March 1918

Rank and Regiment: Private 302607 in the 8th Battalion of the Tank Corps

Resting Place: Hedauville Communal Cemetery Extension, France - H. 21

Memorial: St. Mary’s, Whinburgh, United Kingdom

Alfred Walter Gee was born in 1886 in the tiny village of Matlaske, south-west of Cromer. He was the son of John and Harriet Gee (nee Davison). He was baptised in the village on 13th March 1887.

According to the 1891 Census, John worked as an agricultural labourer. The couple had three children named Robert, Alice and Alfred. Also living at the home was a lodger, Thomas Steward, who also worked as an agricultural labourer. Tragically, in 1896, John passed away. This may explain why, in 1901, Thomas is listed as the head of family, with Harriet as a domestic servant, and Robert and Alfred as boarders working as an agricultural labourer and stable boy respectively. In 1911-12, Harriet married Thomas to become Harriet Steward.

On 18th February 1907, Alfred married Rhoda Amelia Bowman (b. 11 July 1878 in Mattishall) in Whinburgh. He was 21, and listed his occupation as a gardener. Soon after, on 25th May 1907, Rhoda gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son called Robert - no doubt named after Alfred’s brother. According to the 1911 Census, the family lived in Whinburgh and Walter worked as a groom on a farm. A few months later, on 5th February 1912, the couple had a daughter named Edith Maria Gee.

As the war broke out, Alfred enlisted in Norwich as a Private in the Royal Fusiliers. He was then transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps before finally moving to the 8th Battalion of the Tank Corps. On 30th March 1918, Alfred died of wounds he had sustained at the Battle of the Somme aged 31. He is buried at Hedauville Communal Cemetery Extension (H. 21). His effects, amounting to £10 18s 11d, were paid out to Rhoda, together with a War Gratuity of £5 10s.

Rhoda never remarried and reverted to using her maiden name, “Bowman”, after Alfred’s death. According to the 1939 Census, she lived alone on Dereham Road, Whinburgh. She died aged 66 in 1944.

Robert survived both world wars and went on to marry Hilda Agnes Spinks in January 1931. A year later in 1932, the couple had a child, Alfred’s grandson, named George Gee. In 1939, the census records the family living in Matlaske. Robert was a general labourer while Hilda took on part-time work and George attended school. The couple had a long marriage until 1981 when she passed away. Robert lived for 12 more years before passing away in Windsor, Berkshire in May 1993.

At the beginning of 1932, Edith married Jonathan F Hewing and went on to have at least two children. In 1939, the couple lived in Swaffham and John worked as a railway porter. Edith had a long life before passing away in December 1997 in Bury St. Edmund’s.

Hedauville Communal Cemetery Extension, France