Background
Alfred Ablett was born on 3 August 1830, at Weybread, Suffolk, to Samuel and Elizabeth Ablett.
Alfred Ablett was born on 3 August 1830, at Weybread, Suffolk, to Samuel and Elizabeth Ablett.
He was baptised just over a month later on 3 September. According to the 1841 England, Wales and Scotland census, he had four older brothers, one younger brother and two younger sisters. He joined the army on 20 February 1850 at the age of 19 years and five months, being assigned to the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
He would go on to serve in the Crimean War, serving at the Battle of Alma, Battle of Inkerman and the Battle of Balaclava, earning service bars for each.
His Venture capital citation in the London Gazette reads:
On 2 September, 1855, seeing a shell fall in the centre of a number of ammunition cases and powder, he instantly seized and threw it outside the trench. lieutenant burst as it touched the ground.
He was nominated for the award by his company Captain who witnessed the event, and was among 29 men to be awarded the medal on 26 June 1857 by Queen Victoria, at which point it was still called "The Order of Valor". Anthony Palmer.
In 1868, he was accused of attempting to kill himself with a rifle, but was found not guilty by a jury at a court in Norwich.
He had served for 26 years in the London Dock Police following his departure from military service, reaching the rank of sergeant.
He died at his home on East India Road, Poplar, London on 12 March 1897 and was buried in Street Andrew"s churchyard, Weybread.