Ernest Wright Alexander | |
---|---|
File:Ernest Wright Alexander.jpg | |
Born | October 2, 1870 |
Died | August 25, 1934 | (aged 63)
Place of birth | Liverpool, England |
Place of death | Kingsbridge, Devon |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | British Army |
Years of service | 1889 - 1934 |
Rank | Major General |
Unit | Royal Artillery |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Awards |
Victoria Cross Companion Of The Bath Companion Of St Michael And St George Mention in Despatches Knight Of The Order Of Savoy (Italy) Grand Officer Of The Order Of Aviz (Portugal) Croix de Guerre (France) |
Major General Ernest Wright Alexander VC CB CMG (2 October 1870 – 25 August 1934) was by birth an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Alexander was trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and commissioned into the British Army. At the age of 43, as a major in the 119th Battery Royal Field Artillery, during the First World War, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry.
On 24 August 1914, during the action of Elouges, Belgium, when the flank guard was attacked by a German corps, Alexander handled his battery against overwhelming odds with such conspicuous success that all his guns were saved notwithstanding that they had to be withdrawn by hand by himself and volunteers led by a Captain (Francis Octavus Grenfell) of the 9th Lancers. This enabled the retirement of the 5th Division to be carried out without serious loss. Subsequently, Major Alexander rescued a wounded man under heavy fire.[1]
He later achieved the rank of major general. His medal group is on display at the Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum, London. He has a headstone in Putney Vale Cemetery.
References[]
- ↑ "No. 29074". 16 February 1915. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29074/page/
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)
- Liverpool VCs (James Murphy, Pen and Sword Books, 2008)
External links[]
- Liverpool Echo
- 'Burial location of Ernest Alexander' (S.W. London)
- 'Location of Ernest Alexander's Victoria Cross' (Sold at auction)
- Lot information from the auction
The original article can be found at Ernest Alexander and the edit history here.