Sergeant Alfred Chalk was born in 1894 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and was part of the Mansfield Cadets. He lived at Sutton in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire and was a miner by trade. Alfred enlisted at the age of 21 years and served with the 8th Battalion. 

He was promoted to Sergeant on the 9th September 1914 and the 13th September he married Dora Chalk. On the 31st December 1914, Alfred received 2 days punishment for neglecting his duty and was later confined to the barracks as punishment on two other occasions. On the 2nd February 1915, he was confined to the barracks for 14 days for refusing to obey orders and was again confined for 14 days for irregular conduct on the 29th March 1915.  

He served before the Great War with the early number 2516 and embarked with the Battalion arriving in France on the 2nd March 1915.  

Alfred was reported missing on the 10th February 1917 and was listed as a Prisoner of War on the 23rd April 1917. He was held at Freedrechfeld by Wesel and was given the POW number 70973. He was repatriated on the 30th November 1918. Albert survived the war and was discharged on the 3rd March 1919.