Alfred Reid was born in Liverpool, Lancashire on the 10 April 1888, the son of Alfred and Hannah Reid. He had six brothers; George, James, Thomas, Robert, Charles and Reginald; and four more of his siblings died in infancy. In 1915 the family home was at 11 Cambridge Street, Liverpool.
Alfred was the second eldest of the surviving children of the Reid family, and on completing his education was employed by Liverpool City Corporation as a ‘car cleaner’. In June 1909 he enlisted as a reservist in the 9th Battalion, The Kings (Liverpool) Regiment as 1212 Private Alfred Reid. He remained a part-time soldier until October 1912.
At some time Alfred enlisted in the British Mercantile Marine and served as a third class waiter in the Stewards' Department on board the
Lusitania on her final voyage. He was killed when she was sunk. He was aged 27 years.
His body was not recovered and identified afterwards, so he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
Three of his brothers served with The Colours in the First World War.
References
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1891 Census of England and Wales, 1901 Census of England and Wales, 1911 Census of England and Wales, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Cunard Records, Joe Devereux, Liverpool Echo, PRO BT 334.