Alfred Booth, actually Alfred John Leonard Hudson, was born in Burton on Trent abt 1897. In 1901 he was living in Burton with his father Levi Hudson, his mother Elizabeth Jane (nee Ratcliffe) and his elder sister Grace. Levi was a stationery engine driver and they’d married in 1890. In 1907 Oliver Booth, a bricklayer from Burton, was lodging with them. One night Levi is said to have thrashed Elizabeth and Alfred and the next day they ran off with Oliver. Grace may already have left home.
Oliver, Lizzie (who was 11 years older than him) and Alfred moved to New Sawley. By 1911 they were living at 92 Hawthorne Rd and had a 2-year-old daughter, Mona. Alfred was 14 and employed selling milk.
By Nov 1914 they’d moved to 5 Hey St and Alfred was a factory hand. He signed up at Nottingham in the Kings Royal Rifles, calling himself Alfred Booth. In Mar 1915 he was sent to France. During the July 1916 Somme campaign he was serving in C Company, 1st Battalion during the Battle of Delville Wood. Rifleman Booth was reported missing in action on 27 July and was assumed to have died that day. His name is on the Delville Wood Cemetery memorial.
Two months later the War Office sent the family £1.15s.5d from his personal effects. Lizzie took the money but Oliver had to sign for it at the Post Office. Levi Hudson then found out about his son’s death and traced the family, having not been in touch since 1907. Oliver Booth was summoned for obtaining the money by false pretenses and fined £3 since, as Alfred had left no will, the money was due to his father. Levi Hudson also received a war gratuity of £7.10s.