War Service: Alexander (Bert) enlisted 19 Jul 1915 at Blackboy Hill, WA aged 22 years 10 months. He embarked from Adelaide, SA, per HMAT Geelong 18 Nov 1915 and arrived in Suez, Eygpt one month later 18 Dec 1915 to join the British Expeditionary Forces. On 17 Jun 1916, Bert left Alexandria, Egypt per HMT Transylvania and disembarked in Marseilles, France 23 Jun 1916 to join his battalion. He was wounded in the stomach and right leg and taken to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station 20 Jul 1916. Two days later he
was admitted to the 13th General Hospital in Boulogne, France before being sent on to the Chatham Military Hospital in England per hospital ship, Cambria 23 Jul 1916. Bert was granted furlough 29 Aug 1916 before being marched in to Perham Downs, England and transferred to the 8th Training Battalion 14 Sep 1916. Bert proceeded to Etaples, France per troopship Princess Victoria 06 Dec 1916 to rejoin his battalion 31 Dec 1916. Then on 09 Apr 1917, he was appointed Lance Corporal and received a promotion to Corporal 22 Jul 1917.
Killed in Action: 12 Oct 1917 at Zonnebeke, Belgium on the Western Front aged 24 years. Alexander has no known grave. The 32nd Battalion was involved in the Battle at Polygon Wood and 19 casualties from the battalion were reported as being killed on this day.
Memorial: Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Memorial, Victory Medal