Alfred McGladdery was the son of Robert and Annie McGladdery and husband of Agnes McGladdery, of Haverhill, Suffolk. He was born in 1908 in Cockermouth, Cumberland. His younger brother, Robert, served in the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) and was killed in action on 1 June 1940, aged 28. Robert is buried in Dunkirk Town Cemetery. Alfred served with the Border Regiment prior to World War 2 and recalled at the outbreak of the war and volunteered for airborne forces.

Company Sergeant Major McGladdery successfully completed Glider training and was posted to 1 (Airborne) Battalion, Border Regiment. He took part in the Sicily landings and also in the Battle of Arnhem, Operation Market Garden.

CSM McGladdery died of wounds in the St Antonius Hospital at Utrecht on 22 September 1944, aged 36, and was buried in Utrecht (Soestbergen) General Cemetery.