Private Alfred Crofts was born in Tickencote on 25 September 1890, the son of William Crofts and his wife. He was a personal servant before enlisting on 9 November 1914 with the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. He went to the Western Front the following March and on 3 July 1916 was killed in action with the 1st Battalion during the Battle of the Somme. The Lincolns, part of 62nd Brigade, had the job of capturing Shelter Wood north-east of Fricourt as part of a pincer movement to capture the village itself. It was a tough task with heavy fire coming not only from the wood but from the smaller Birch Tree Wood nearby. But it was eventually cleared of the enemy, 800 of whom surrendered. Alfred died in this action. He is now buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers, grave IV.H.5, and remembered in the church at Tickencote.

See where all our Rutland soldiers died during the Battle of the Somme on our interactive map.