Alfred Legg was the son of Alfred Thomas, a sea-going engineer, and his wife, Sarah Smith Legg.

It is not known when Alfred junior attended Westoe Secondary School, but after he left he became a clerk and, as he approached his 18th birthday, was clearly keen to serve.

When he was only 17 years old, on 19-Jun-1916, Alfred signed up, and was placed on the Army Reserve. Then, in August that year, shortly before his 18th birthday, and because he was under 19, he formally declared that he was prepared to join for service immediately

He was mobilised on 9-Aug-1916, and the following day joined the Durham Light Infantry, serving in Seaham.

There was a small hiccup in his career, when he was reported "improperly dressed" on Seaham Harbour station one afternoon, for which he was confined to Barracks for 2 days.

He was posted to France on 9-Jan-1918, where he served as a signaller.

Alfred's Battalion suffered huge losses at the start of the "Spring Offensive", and on 21-Mar-1918 Alfred Legg was one of those lost. Initially posted as missing, on 31-Mar-1918 he was presumed dead by the War Office.

A report from a comrade of his suggests that he may actually have died on 24th March whilst escaping from the Germans over a bridge that the British blew up.

He is believed to be one of 6,500 dead who were buried at the Serre Road Cemetery in The Somme.