Lives of the First World War

Family headstone in Wombwell Cemetery which has an inscription commemorating A E Flaxmen. He is however not buried here.

Alfred Edward Flaxman (1 October 1879 – 1 July 1916) was a British track and field athlete who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was born in Wombwell, South Yorkshire and was killed in action in Gommecourt, Pas-de-Calais, France. In 1908, he participated in the discus throw competition, in the Greek discus throw event, in the freestyle javelin throw competition, and in the standing high jump event but in all these competitions his final ranking is unknown. Flaxman was killed in action during the First World War, serving as a second lieutenant with the South Staffordshire Regiment on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. His remains were not recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial

Article on Alfred Flaxman in the Barnsley Chronicle 23rd October 2015.

Close up of the inscription on the Flaxman family headstone in Wombwell cemetery, South Yorkshire.

Close up of the inscription on the Flaxman family headstone in Wombwell cemetery, South Yorkshire.

Alfred is remembered on the grave of his parents in Wombwell cemetery, South Yorkshire.

This memorial was commissioned by Barnsley council and designed by Musson and Rettalick as a memorial to men from the Barnsley area who fell on the first day of the Somme.This glass panel outside Barnsley town hall features the 1908 Olympian Alfred Flaxman. (Top row middle picture.)