Tynesider Posted 12 April , 2013 Share Posted 12 April , 2013 I've been approached to assist the RCMP in tracing the family of the quaintly named soldier above, if anyone reading these boards can assist it would be appreciated. Here is the link to an article published in the local press: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/12/12/bc-langley-war-medals.html Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 12 April , 2013 Share Posted 12 April , 2013 I've been approached to assist the RCMP in tracing the family of the quaintly named soldier above, if anyone reading these boards can assist it would be appreciated. Here is the link to an article published in the local press: http://www.cbc.ca/ne...war-medals.html Martin The date of his entry to theatre 2nd May 1915 is the date both the 6th and the 7th Black Watch as part of 153 Infantry Brigade of the 51st Highland Division crossed to France. His first number will not reveal which Battalion he was a member of as it was before the numbering changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theletterwriter Posted 12 April , 2013 Share Posted 12 April , 2013 Martin I am sure it is all very easy but I have never been able to fathom out how to link posts. However, if you look in the medals forum around December 2012, there is a thread named Medal found in British Columbia. Forum member Waggoner was looking for similar information. Douglas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Stewart Posted 12 April , 2013 Share Posted 12 April , 2013 2374 Pte Alexander Alexander, served with the 7th Bn, R.Highland Regt, having enlisted on the 4th September 1914. He was eventually transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers(206476) and only appears to have have served with the 4th(Reserve)Bn, before being Discharged under KR's Para 392(xvi)a from the N.F.Depot on the 7th February 1919. His Silver War Badge No.B/200215. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughdiamond Posted 12 April , 2013 Share Posted 12 April , 2013 If he was Scottish, the name is not that unusual, there were 146 Alexander Alexander's registered as born between 1880 and 1900 according to Scotlands People. Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 12 April , 2013 Share Posted 12 April , 2013 If he was Scottish, the name is not that unusual, there were 146 Alexander Alexander's registered as born between 1880 and 1900 according to Scotlands People. Sam There was a barber in Lochee, part of Dundee, he was called "Double Ecky". Eck the short form of Alexander Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tynesider Posted 13 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 13 April , 2013 Thanks for all the replies, however i'n NOT looking for information on his war service nor how to decipher an MIC, I can do all that myself. The RCMP are looking to trace relatives, as stated in my original post, there is a hint in the post: to assist the RCMP in tracing the family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 14 April , 2013 Share Posted 14 April , 2013 That's us told off then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amberdog Posted 14 April , 2013 Share Posted 14 April , 2013 If he was Scottish, the name is not that unusual, there were 146 Alexander Alexander's registered as born between 1880 and 1900 according to Scotlands People. Sam As Roughdiamond has pointed out there are many Alexander's. Without getting his year of birth off a service record this would result in an extremely expensive needle in a haystack search! You cannot subscribe to Scotlandspeople and each birth entry is 5 credits to view. At £7 for 30 credits you can see the need to home in on the year of birth to keep cost to a minimum. He couldn't be traced either on census so would be helpful to have parents names from the birth entry. If you can't move him back onto a census i.e. 1911, you won't be able to move him forward in time to find his descendants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theletterwriter Posted 14 April , 2013 Share Posted 14 April , 2013 Martin Amberdog is bang on the button here. If you have looked at the other post which I do not know how to link, there was a sister in Edinburgh mentioned in it but searches hit a brick wall. I could have checked further but Waggoner did not repsond so that was that as far as I was concerned. If you have any additional information, then post it for us. Scotlands People is expensive enough without trailing through 140+ Alexander Alexanders. I am more than happy to throw a few bob at this but every snippet of information helps. I know that from other posts that Rough Diamond has also helped in researching Scots born for the forum so you have people who are here to help if possible. We can do without hints and being told off. Mild rant over Douglas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amberdog Posted 14 April , 2013 Share Posted 14 April , 2013 Martin Amberdog is bang on the button here. If you have looked at the other post which I do not know how to link, there was a sister in Edinburgh mentioned in it but searches hit a brick wall. I could have checked further but Waggoner did not repsond so that was that as far as I was concerned. If you have any additional information, then post it for us. Scotlands People is expensive enough without trailing through 140+ Alexander Alexanders. I am more than happy to throw a few bob at this but every snippet of information helps. I know that from other posts that Rough Diamond has also helped in researching Scots born for the forum so you have people who are here to help if possible. We can do without hints and being told off. Mild rant over Douglas Out of interest it would cost roughly £170+ to look at 146 birth entries. If the credits were purchased at a UK library though it would cost half that amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 14 April , 2013 Share Posted 14 April , 2013 The MIC does not show his Battalion. We now know that he was 7th Black Watch and that he enlisted on 4th September 1914 all the Black Watch TF records were destroyed in the 30s. There is a possibility that he is a Fifer. That is all I will offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theletterwriter Posted 14 April , 2013 Share Posted 14 April , 2013 As an example of what may be a total fluke in finding the correct person or, equally, a completely false trail, in the 1911 Census there is an Alexander Alexander aged 26 whose employment is recorded as a joiner Can. Pac. Ry. who was born in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire. Obviously to be recorded in the Census, he was in Scotland on that day although it would appear he worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway. His mother is recorded as Mrs. Alexander which is a big help. Siblings were Jeannie (39), Barbara (24) and Christian (22) all born in Fyvie. Douglas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 17 April , 2013 Share Posted 17 April , 2013 I did a quick search. There were 8 Alexander Alexanders in Fife in the 1911 census: ALEXANDER ALEXANDER 24 KELTY /FIFE 410/02 005/00 019 ALEXANDER ALEXANDER 32 DALGETTY /FIFE 422/00 001/00 003 ALEXANDER ALEXANDER 8 DALGETTY /FIFE 422/00 001/00 003 ALEXANDER ALEXANDER 73 DUNFERMLINE /FIFE 424/00 028/00 024 ALEXANDER ALEXANDER 24 DUNFERMLINE /FIFE 424/00 023/00 010 ALEXANDER ALEXANDER 9 DYSART /FIFE 426/00 003/00 014 ALEXANDER ALEXANDER 37 KIRKCALDY AND ABBOTSHALL /FIFE 442/00 002/00 009 ALEXANDER ALEXANDER 44 KIRKCALDY AND ABBOTSHALL /FIFE 442/00 010/00 012 I notice that 1/7 Black Watch were still in Fife in September 1914. It might be useful if anyone could find information at the Canadian end. There seem have been a relatively small number of Alexander Alexanders living in British Columbia at the time of the 1935 and 1940 censuses. It may be possible to match these up (or not as the case may be!). Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC53 Posted 10 May , 2013 Share Posted 10 May , 2013 This Alexander Alexander born 1890 in Edinburgh, Scotland according to passenger lists was in Vancouver between 1930 and 1933. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J2GC-ZPN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxy Posted 10 May , 2013 Share Posted 10 May , 2013 4 Alexander Alexander's born in Edinburgh between 1889 and 1891. Roxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC53 Posted 11 May , 2013 Share Posted 11 May , 2013 In response to the post by Theletterwriter "If you have looked at the other post which I do not know how to link, there was a sister in Edinburgh mentioned in it but searches hit a brick wall." this might be the link referred to http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=188457 . TEW posted "This leaves us with 5 AAs, one of which was born c1890 in Edinburgh and settled in Vancouver. Distance to where the medals were found in Langley is 26 miles from his home address of 3889 West 13th Vancouver. This AA worked as Steward/Chief Steward for Canadian National Railways, Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Steamers. His records 1930-33 give his sister’s details as Mary Hislop, 36 Cornley Bank Place, Edinburgh. How to prove Mary Hislop was 2374 Alexander Alexander’s sister??" This is my understanding so far. Mrs. Mary Hislop of 36 Comley Bank Place, Edinburgh is mentioned on several passenger lists as Alexander Alexander's sister. According to the records he was born 11 Mar 1890 in Edinburgh and died 4 Jan 1972 in Cleveland, Ohio. On the marriage record to his second wife his father is Alex. Alexander and his mother is Grace Davidson. He had one known daughter Helen born 1931 in Vancouver. According to Helen who is still alive and living in the United States, Mary Hislop was Alexander's sister. Mary Hislop died in 1945 and was married to James Hislop in 1913 but on both records her parents are Grace Davidson and Alexander Mitchell Levy. Mary and Alexander may have had different fathers but for some reason Alexander must have changed his name sometime between 1901 and his presumed service in WW I. There was a collection of coins found along with the medals and if examined they might correspond with the passenger lists for this Alexander Alexander who travelled widely between 1916 and 1936. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaforth78 Posted 11 May , 2013 Share Posted 11 May , 2013 I've been approached to assist the RCMP in tracing the family of the quaintly named soldier above, if anyone reading these boards can assist it would be appreciated. Here is the link to an article published in the local press: http://www.cbc.ca/ne...war-medals.html Martin Perhaps a word of thanks rather a mere 'it would be appreciated' would be much helpful Martin to all the above who endevoured to help you so far with an, admittiingly difficult name! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 11 May , 2013 Share Posted 11 May , 2013 Perhaps a word of thanks rather a mere 'it would be appreciated' would be much helpful Martin to all the above who endevoured to help you so far with an, admittiingly difficult name! Well said sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaforth78 Posted 4 June , 2013 Share Posted 4 June , 2013 No use flogging a dead horse here; why don't you let the RCMP do their own researching? These medals were clearly issued to an Empire soldier of the Black Watch who, if he survived, may have either emigrated to Canada in the interwar years or else belonged to an medal collector who died and whose effects have not been disposed of correctly. What makes you think that this group belonged to a Canadian? Doesn't mean anything today in this world of international collecting or post war movement. Needle in a haystack I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC53 Posted 4 June , 2013 Share Posted 4 June , 2013 It should be remembered the RCMP apparently exhausted their research efforts in Dec 2012 and have been pleading to the public for help ever since. Can we not assume the Alexander Alexander in question was probably a British soldier of Scottish descent who came to Canada and was in the Vancouver area at some time? His Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) regiment number was 2374. Does that mean according to this site http://armyservicenu...rs-1st-2nd.html he would have joined in Apr 1912 or shortly thereafter? He entered the war on 2 May 1915. If the Black Watch served with the British 51st (Highland) Division in World War I, does that mean he fought in France and was there was a possible Lancashire connection? For reference see http://51hd.co.uk/hi...y/world_war_one . His Northumberland Fusiliers regiment number was 206476. Do the first two numbers represent the 20th Battalion? They did not enter the war until 1916. See http://www.tyneside-scottish.co.uk/1stbattalion.html . Should the last four numbers not go beyond say 2000? What then would be the significance of such an anomalous suffix? Was the Northumberland Fusiliers a replacement unit he was transferred to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullybrone Posted 4 June , 2013 Share Posted 4 June , 2013 Hi, Very interesting thread. Only contribution I can make is re conjecture on last post that 6 digit NF NUMBER 206476 if read as 20/6476 puts Alexander Alexander in 1st Tyneside Scottish. I do not believe he could have been 1st TS - 4 digit TS numbers (whatever Battalion) did not go that high. Graham Stewart is the NF expert and he responded to this thread some time ago. Steve Y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaforth78 Posted 4 June , 2013 Share Posted 4 June , 2013 Not to sound flippant, but by God what kind of mother give such a name to her son? The poor sot.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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