Alfred Copeman Larter

Private - Service No.47615 - 11th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps

Alfred Copeman Larter was born on the 29th of August 1899 in Swardeston, Norfolk, the illegitimate son of Edith Susan Larter. Edith was, in turn, the illegitimate daughter of Mary Ann Larter, born in 1880 before Mary married William Edmund Howes. William Howes and Mary (Larter) went on to have five children including three sons who all fought in the war and are the subjects of adjacent displays.

About the time Alfred was born Edith's grandmother, Maria, died and it appears that Edith, together with baby Alfred moved in with her grandfather George Larter, by the common in Swardeston, as his housekeeper. Four years later, in 1903, George died and in early 1909 Edith married William Mayhew from Withersdale Street near Stradbroke in Suffolk. Their wedding was closely followed by the birth of their daughter Ina Maud Mayhew in Swardeston.

When he left school Alfred continued to live in Swardeston working as a gardener. On 25th November 1926 Alfred married Mabel Blazer at Mulbarton, Norfolk. Records appear to show they had no children. Mabel died in 1963 in Mulbarton and Alfred died on 8th August 1964 while living in Wood Lane, Swardeston with his widowed sister-in-law Dora Bunn (Blazer).

Alfred joined the 11th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, some time from 1916, with the rank of Private and Service No. 47615. His army records do not survive but we know he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

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