Alfred John Harding was born in Sholing, Hampshire, England in 1891 and his birth was registered in the last quarter of that year. He was the son of Alfred John Harding (b. 1858) and Mabel Alice Stainer (b. 1859). Both his parents hailed from Hampshire and married in Southampton in early 1879.

On the 1901 census Alfred and his family are living at an address in South Stoneham, Hampshire. His father is described as a railway porter and also present are his siblings: Albert Edward (b. 1885), Edith Maud (b. 1887), William Frederick (b. 1889), Charles Henry (b. 1889) and Elsie Louise (b. 1893).

On the 1911 census Alfred and his family have shifted to Railway Cottages, Station Cottages, Swaythling, Southampton. His father is still described as a railway porter and Alfred is described as an unmarried ship's steward.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as Station Cottages, Swaythling, Southampton. His last ship had been the Oceanic. As a pantry steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Harding died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Alfred's parents continued to live in Southampton; his mother died in 1915 and his father in 1940.