The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-29
.EAVES WAS FIRST
 BIRMINGHAM BOY
 ID DIE IN THE WAR
Joined Canadians-Shot In September, 1916- King Sends Letter of Condo
 lence to Parents Here
py .CARoLYN pRANpoN ELLIoTr.

By CAROLYN BRANDON ELLIOTT.
 The dawn of tomorrow will bring to each of us memories that have no need of reveille or martial music to awaken-memories too long and deep and dear to be held between rising and setting sun; memories that have al- ways been ours since first we listened to the song of sacrifice, to the story of heroic deeds; memories that have been ours since we have read the pages of history, since we have known the com rade or kinsman or friend of the late World war who died that others might live,
 Memorial day tomorrow will leave it's fragrant tribute of flowers in tho cen- eteries all over our land, to mark the graves of those who died for tho sake of their country. But somewhere in France" there Is a grave amUns the graves no flowers of ours will find on any memory day, where perchance "fleur de lis" may breathe its beni- son over the sacrifice of Birmingham lad whose portrait in tho home of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. George Eaves. Is crowned with the Stars and Stripes en- twined with the loyal Union Jack,
 Ispeak of Alfred Curtis Eaves, who di ed in the trenches of France, Septem- Der IS, 1916. killed In action while ad- ministering first aid to 8 wounded comrade.
 The first Birmingham boy, so far as has been determined, who arrived at the battle front in France, Alfred Eaves was also the first to offer the supreme sacrifice of life for the sake of a righteous cause.
 Call and Response.
 T3~F Go oyTatka xy offered the privilege of enliBting in the World war, before Private Eaves had reached his majority, he realized the urgency of the hour and was stirred by its call to those who were young and true. So it was that. though he was not English born himself, he sought enlistment with the Canadian troops to fight in behalf of his fathers and mothers native England, and In behalf of a great world need And so 1t was that after untiring effort and faithful correspondence with authori- ties in Canada and London, Private Eaves, one year after the outbreak or the war, found himself surrounded by Canadian comrades in arms at valcar- tier camp, 20 miles from Quebec, in training for the duties of the soldier enlisted to uphold the standards of England's flag.
 From his letter to his gentle mother, it was glad day for the boy In April, 1916, when he sailed for his fore> fathers native shore. Although with Browning his heart sang, "Oh. to De in England now that April's there," his ready feet were too impatient to carry long, while comrades were dying just across the way In the trenches or France It was when young Alfred Eaves found that his regiment was to be kept for one year in England thai he asked the permission, which was granted him. to be reverted to the ranks that were to go immediately to France.
 The Sacrifice.
 The remainder of his life story Is as brief as was his youth, not record or years, but of noble aspirations and un- selfish deeds.
 Because of the many Birmingham people who knew and loved him, be- cause of the boys, his especial friends of the R. M T. club, each one of whom like himself was willing to give his life. each one of whom enlisted and came back home, 1t will be gratifying at this memorial time to hear the man ner of Alfred Eaves' death as recorded in the following letter to his brother, B. e. Eaves, signed by Capt. W. T. Rogers. o. C.. ID" company.
 "The boy was in No. 16 platoon,
 ID" company. This platoon was
 detailed to advance as part of the
 fifth wave or line to the German
 first line of trenches. Your
 brother was near his platoon of
 ficer during the advance and suc-
 ceeded in reaching his objective
 safely, although the enemy was
 putting up very heavy barrage
 of shrapnel and machine gun fire.
 His snipers were active also. It
 was at this point that Private
 Eaves did a brave and humane
 deed which, I regret to state, cost
 him his life.
 ..Noticing a wounded man lying
 in shell hole a short distance
 from his position in the trench he
 asked his platoon commander if
 he could go to him and apply first
 aid. On account of the heavy
 sniping going on then, the platoon
 officer advised him to wait until
 1t ceased, but to see 8 man suffer
 and not strive to aid him was im-
 possible to man of your brothers
 type. So the last time Private
 Eaves was seen alive he was
 dressing this wounded man.
 "The platoon commander had
 other matters to attend to just
 then, and forgot your brother for
 the moment, but missing him later,
 he looked around and saw him ly-
 ing dead where he had been last
 seen dressing the injured soldier.
 He had been hit by sniper's bull
 let and killed instantly. He suf-
 fered no pain. The dead were
 buried where they fell on the day
 after the fight. Your brother was
 buried about 800 yards south of