Alfred enlisted on 24th June 1906. He was 18 years old at the time. He was transferred to Army Reserve "A" on 23rd June 1908 but was mobilized on the outbreak of war on 5th August 1914. He entered the war in France on 15th August 1914 as part of the Regimental Medical Officer's team for the 1st Bn. Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. He continued to serve in the war under the 1916 Military Service Act. He was the son of Alfred and the husband of Catherine. His Medal Index Card suggests that his war medals were returned and his name changed to T H [Honour] Pownall.