Alfred Moorhouse was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire on 6 Apr 1884, the son of John George and Louisa Ann Moorhouse.
Working as a City of London Policeman before the war, Moorhouse joined the Royal Naval Air Service as Air Mechanic 1st Class on 7 June 1915, promoted to Leading Mechanic pn 15 Dec 1916, Petty Officer Mechanic on 1 Aug 1917 and Chief Mechanic on 2 Apr 1918, serving at Roehampton, Daedalus and Crystal Palace bases.