BLAND, ALFRED ERIC, Gunner, No. 837020, Headquarters Staff S.M., 241st Brigade, 48th Division, Royal Field Artillery, 3rd s. of the late Charles Thomás Bland, by his wife, Margaret Harman (79, Ryland Road, Edgbaston), dau, of the late Edward Skinner, of Edgbaston, Birmingham; and brother to Private P. C. Bland (q.v.); b. Edgbaston, Birmingham, co. Warwick, 23 July, 1894; educ. St. George’s School; was in the employ of the Deritend Stamping Company, Birmingham; volunteered three times for active service, but was rejected as medically unfit (twice); was eventually accepted, and enlisted in the R.F.A. 2 Oct. 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 30 March, 1917; subsequently proceeded to Italy, where he was employed as Clerk on the Headquarters Staff S.M., 241st Brigade, 48th Division R.F.A., and died at Montecchie, Precalcino, Italy, 15 Nov. 1918, of influenza, contracted while on service. Buried in Montecchie, Precalcino, Italy. His Commanding Officer wrote: “The work was very responsible, and it was owing to his working so hard and keeping up when he should have given in, that caused him to take the disease. He was loved by all officers and men.”
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5