COLDICOTT, Alfred

Credit: Gary Newman

Private

4th Battalion

Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Alfred was born in 1894 in Pershore, Worcestershire to Alfred & Jane COLDICOTT of Broad Street, Pershore, Worcestershire.

Evesham Journal 13th March 1915 reported "We regret to record the death of Pte. Alfred Caldicott, the third son of Mr & Mrs A Coldicott of Broad Street, Pershore which occurred on Saturday last at Cowes, Isle of Wight. Pte. Coldicott was twenty years of age, joined the Army some years ago but left the service on account of heart trouble. On the outbreak of war however, he re-joined his old regiment the 4th Warwickshire’s and was stationed with them at Warwick until his regiment was moved to the Isle of Wight. The first intimation the bereaved parents received that their son was took ill was by wire on Saturday and Mrs Caldicott at once took the train to Cowes. She was, however, too late to see her son alive. The funeral took place at Cowes on Tuesday afternoon. Pte. Caldicott’s early death is greatly deplored by his many friends while deep sympathy is expressed for his parents and relatives. Pte. Caldicott’s younger brother is a bugler in the 1st Reserves Worcester Yeomanry and is at present stationed at Worcester.”

Alfred died on the 6th of March 1915 aged 19. Alfred is buried in Parkhurst Military Cemetery beneath a Commission Headstone alongside 88 First & Second World War casualties.

CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Parkhurst Military Cemetery

Location

Construction of the barracks, which were originally named Parkhurst Barracks after the forest where they were located, was completed in September 1798. Shortly after completion they were renamed "Albany Barracks" after Prince Frederick, Duke of York & Albany, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. By 1807 they were occupied by the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot preparing for action in the Peninsular War. In 1859 the Isle of Wight Rifles was raised as a defence force for the Island & stationed at the barracks.

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The Parkhurst Military Cemetery, on Forest Road, was established in the 1840's, replacing an older cemetery which has since been developed.

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The cemetery serviced the families & servicemen of the Parkhurst Barracks (later Albany Barracks) & Military Hospital.
The cemetery includes a 'Cross of Sacrifice', designed by Sir Reginald BLOMFIELD, as it has over 40 War Graves.

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During WW2 a number of Germany servicemen (50) (mainly crashed aircrew) were buried in the cemetery; their bodies were exhumed & re-interred at the Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in the early 1960s. This included the body of Major General Dr Hans Volkmar FISSER of the German Air Force who was shot down over the Island on 12 August 1940 in a Junkers 88. He was a doctor of Political Science. He is buried with Sgt Jakob BIRNDORFER an ME109 pilot also relocated from Parkhurst.

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After the closure of the barracks in the early 1960's, the cemetery remains part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Estate managed by the Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCC) at Ijim Barracks, Gloucester although the CWGC monitors the War Graves, the MOD is responsible for its general upkeep

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