Early Life :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

Alfred enlisted into HM Royal Navy, in the record book as M15819, on 1 January 1915, possibly having previous service, as occupation given as “late L.6073”. He is described as being 5’4’’ in height, of fresh complexion, with brown hair, and grey eyes. He had a butterfly tattoo on his left forearm, a birthmark on the left shoulder, and the letter “G” tattooed on his right forearm. His service from 1.1.1915 was at H.M.S.Vivid 1, until transferred to H.M.S.Powerful on 13.2.1915, where he served until 12.9.1915. The following day he was transferred to Liverpool, his character and ability being assessed as Very Good, but on the 9 December the record has written “run”. In the Remark Column it says “Cannot count Merchant Services”, perhaps alluding to his occupation before the Royal Navy.

For some reason, Alf had decided the ‘navy life’ wasn’t for him, and left in December 1915, obviously forgetting to tell them, and enlisted under the assumed name of Christopher Ascroft, to serve in the 19 Btn King’s (Liverpool Regiment), the “Liverpool Pals”.

He got around the small problem of already serving his country with the Royal Navy by negating to mention it, and using a new name, Christopher Ascroft, being given the service number of 34569 and the rank of Private. On some records he is still recorded as C. Ascroft, even erroneously as Ashcroft, born, resided and enlisted in Liverpool.

After undergoing training, he went out to France and Flanders with the battalion, but unfortunately was killed in action on 30 July 1916. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, along with over 72,000 men who died on the Somme and have no known grave.

Up until this date, the 19 Btn had only sustained a relatively small number of casualties, due to having been used only in support roles, firstly on the 1 July, and later No 3 Company had been used in the fighting for Trones Wood on 13 July.

This was the first big attack for the Battalion, and its cost was to be high, its objective being the village of Guillemont. The battalion attacked from White Horse Trench at 4.45 am, into a thick mist and a cacophony of German artillery firing mostly gas shells. If that was not enough, the German machine guns swept across No Man’s Land. Bullets do not need eyes. The attack was a failure, with none of the objectives being held, but the loss of manpower to the 19th Battalion was horrendous. By midday, the effective fighting strength was left at 7 officers and 43 men.

Alfred was not alone in giving his all on this, the blackest of days for Liverpool and its environs, also killed in the attack, and commemorated with Alfred, both at Thiepval and Hope Street are fellow freemasons Ernie Forrest, Ben Partridge, and Harry Shipman.

A family notice was placed in the Liverpool Echo saying “in loving memory of Alfred Reginald Cutts (Pal’s) second son of Harry Cutts, also Fred Garside (Pal’s) both killed in action July 30 1916. 106 Kirkdale Road. The following year on 30 July 1917 the Liverpool Echo had a large ‘In Memorium” for those killed at the battle for Guillemont with CUTTS - July 30, 1916, killed in action, previously reported missing, Alfred Reginald Cutts, KLR (Pals), late s.s. Pannonia, second son of Harry Cutts, 106 Kirkdale-road, Liverpool.

Masonic :

Alfred Reginald Cutts was initiated into Marlborough Lodge No 1620 on 5th May, 1913, age 23 years, a Ships Steward of 106 Kirkdale Road. He was passed to the second or fellow-craft degree on 5 October 1914, and raised as a master mason in the third degree on 2 November 1914. His Grand Lodge Certificate issued on 11 November 1914.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley