Alfred James Stonnell was born in Hulme, Manchester in 1896, 1 of 12 children born to Daniel & Sarah.

In 1911 he is 15 years old & working as an iron moulder at the gas stove makers & living with his family at 71 Warwick Road, Luton. His father Daniel is 52 years old & a bricklayer, Lillian Rebecca 19, is a straw hat machinist, Thomas William is 17 years old & an engineer's fitter, 13 year old Edith May is at school whilst his 52 year old mother Sarah is at home looking after Violet Edna 11 & 8 year old Vera Mabel. On census night Alfred's older brother Dan a 24 year old bricklayer, is also at Warwick road with his 26 year old wife Sarah, a straw hat machinist, both working in London. The head of the household Daniel, also has his 2 year old granddaughter Edith May Davies with them, a total of 11 people in a 5 roomed house.

On 3rd September 1914 Alfred joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in Manchester. His service record describes him as 5ft 3 inches with a fresh complexion, light blue eyes, brown hair & having a very good character. On 25th September 1915 he was posted to France. After 5 months of service in France Alfred became ill so on the 21st March 1916 he was sent home to England to a hospital in Chichester. Alfred was suffering from tuberculosis in both lungs which originated in February 1916 as a result of active service, strain & exposure. He was discharged from the army on 26th May 1916 as physically unfit for duty requiring treatment in a sanatorium.

Alfred died of tuberculosis on 20th May 1918, he is buried in the cemetery on Rothesay Road.