Military History

Alexander is listed as being killed in on 23 Aug 1918 during the capture of Ervillers. The 1st Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Quesnoy Farm – 23/8/18: The Battalion moved off from Quesnoy Farm at 5am by platoons to the Ayette-Bucquoy Road. At 7am the road was crossed and companies moved into position at A.7.d. Here final details for the attack on Ervillers were settled and at 10pm the Battn moved to the assembly positions in A.22.a arriving there 15 minutes before zero.

During the halt the enemy commenced shelling the assembly positions and by 11am when the attack commenced a heavy barrage [British] was down on A.16, 17, 22 and 23 squares [map grids]. The barrage was shortened as the advance continued and the Battn had some casualties including Rev C.K. Bell and Lt Humbley who were both killed.

All objectives of the Brigade were captured without serious opposition from the enemy infantry who surrendered freely as our men came near. The 5^th Inf Bde on our right failed to capture Behagnies and throughout the day Field Gun and M.G. fire from the ridge NE of Behagnies was very troublesome.

The final dispositions of the Battn were A Coy in Sunken Riad in A.24.d, C & D Coys in Ervillers – Bee Wood trench in B.19. The 2^nd S. Staffs were holding the E edge of the village and B Coy were withdrawn to Battn HQ which had been established in the Park at A.23.b.5.8.

Rations and water were brought up by the transport to Bn HQ during the night and carried to the companies by B Coy, tools and wire were carried up to the 2^nd S. Staffs.