Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Walter Alexander, known as James, one of 8 children, was the eldest of his surviving siblings, 2 sons and 3 daughters, born to Andrew Alexander and Susanna Jones, known as Annie. Andrew Alexander, a tailor by trade, born in Dublin, Ireland in 1844, having come to England, was married at Tynemouth in 1865 to Annie Jones born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1848, a dressmaker. In 1881 they were living in a shared property at 12, Low Bridges, All Saints, Newcastle, with 2-year-old James Walter (listed in error as Thomas Walter). Over the next ten years their family grew with the birth of Kate in 1882, Annie 1887, Ellen 1884 and Andrew Jnr 1889, they had moved by 1891 to 8, Dog Leap Terrace, James (12) and his younger siblings with the exception of Andrew were scholars.
In the census of 1901 James is not listed with his family who had now moved to the Westgate area of Newcastle, it is highly likely he was in South Africa participating during the Boer War. In 1907 Andrew Alexander Snr died, aged 63 years, in the census of 1911 his widow Annie still worked for her own account still worked for her own account as a dressmaker supported by James (32), employed as a bricklayer’s labourer and Andrew (22) an electrician, Ellen (27) assisted with domestic duties.
When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914, James enlisted September 1914, assigned as Private 9009 Northumberland Fusiliers to the newly formed 10th (Service) Battalion part of Kitchener’s Third New Army. The new recruits concentrated in Hampshire as part of the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division. During the height of winter, they were transferred to Aldershot until they moved to Shorncliffe, Kent in February 1915, where some of the infantry were involved in constructing defences to the south of London during April and May. The division was moved to Bordon, Hampshire at the end of May for final training and departed to France. Private Alexander landed at Boulogne with his regiment August 25th and concentrated near Tilques. The 23rd Division soon after was moved to the Merris-Vieux Berquin area for trench familiarisation by the more experienced 20th and 27th Divisions N. F. before taking over in their own right the Ferme Grande Flamengrie to Armentieres-Wez Macquart road, September 14th 1915. They participated during the Battle of Loos, September 25th-October 8th and remained in the sector until they were relieved, January 1916, spending time at rest near Bruay until returning to the front line, March 3rd, taking over the area around Boyau de L’Ersatz and the Souchez River from the French 17th Division, and subjected to heavy shelling. Some of the men with mining experience during March 1916 were transferred to the newly formed Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers. The main body of the regiment returned in April to Bruay area for a second period of rest before returning to the Souchez sector as the Germans attached at Vimy Ridge, May 16th 1916, where they remained until their withdrawal during June 1916 to Bomy to undertake extensive training in preparation for the forthcoming offensive on the Somme.
The opening battle on the Somme was expected to take place June 29th, however, due to bad weather it was postponed until July 1st 1916. The 10th Battalion as part of the 23rd Division participated during the opening battle at Albert, July 1st-13th 1916, where it captured Contalmaison, saw action at Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Pozieres July 23rd-September 3rd, Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Morval September 25th-28th, Le Transloy October 1st-18th including the capture of Le Sars.
In 1917 the 23rd Division returned to Belgium were they fought at the Battle of Messines, June 7th-14th, Menin Road September 20th-26th, Polygon Wood September 26th-28th and the 1st and 2nd Battles of Passchendaele.
Private 9009 James Alexander Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Menin Road, September 20th 1917 and initially buried on the battlefield by his comrades, his grave marked by a cross bearing his military details. Post war during the clearing of the battlefields isolated graves and small concentrations, at the request of the French and Belgian Governments, were brought into larger cemeteries for reburial. Remains found at map reference J. 19. d. 70. 70 without a cross, destroyed during subsequent actions, were identified as that of Private Alexander by means of a disc and brought into Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army chaplain, June 9th 1921. He is at rest grave X. E. 27, at the time of his demise in 1917 he was 38 years of age and single.
Whilst James was away at the front his mother Annie died, aged 68 years in 1916. With the exception of his sister Ellen all his siblings were married, he therefore chose her as his sole legitimate beneficiary. Ellen received all monies due to him, his disc, also his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ellen Alexander never married, she died in 1950 aged 57 years, Andrew Alexander aged 63 years in 1952, both registered in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Details as regards Kate and Annie Alexander, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Walter Alexander is remembered at Elswick on E35.05
