Walter Alexander M.M. 2888, 290527, Cpl., 1/7 Gordon Highlanders. What were the circumstances of his death?

[rolt968]

Walter Alexander was killed in action on 14 February 1917, while attached to 153 Trench Mortar Battery.

In the report of his death in a local paper on 2 March 1917 it says that he had been awarded the DCM and that the ribbon had been awarded by his "Commanding Officer" recently.

 

The award of ribbons was on 2 February 1917 and the awards were made by the GOC [51] Division (1/7 GH War Diary). The MM was gazetted on 22 January 1917.

 

I wondered if Walter Alexander had originally been recommended for a DCM and been awarded an MM instead and whoever wrote to his family had not been aware of the lower award. Unfortunately the war diary contains no infomation about recommendations or awards.

 

I was surprised to find that the DCM appears on the CWGC Graves Registration Form:

The inscription form is correct and includes the six digit serial number:

 

I am baffled by the error in the Graves Registration Form. Where did it get the DCM from?

RM

 

 

 

[rolt968]

I have changed the direction of this thread because I have been unable to establish the circumstances of Walter Alexander's death. I would appreciate if anyone can make any suggestions.

1. I cannot find the War Diary for 153 Trench Mortar Battery for 14 February 1917.

2. 153 Brigade HQ, 1/7 Gordon Highlanders and 153 TMB were at Frevillers. All the infantry battalions were providing very large working parties. (Indeed the 153 Bde War Diary describes them as skeletons. Incidentally 1/6 Black Watch "as a working party" was at Louez which is where Walter Alexander was buried.

3. Most record give Walter Alexander as killed in action. The exception is the Daily Casualty List which lists him as killed (not killed in action).

4. The War Diary of 1/7 Gordon Highlanders lists only one casualty for February 1917 which is listed as killed.

(5. The inventory submitted by his father to Stonehaven Sheriff Court on 19 June 1917  gives the date of death as 18 February 1917! At the moment I am rejecting that as a mistake.)

6 I have looked at the death record at scotlandspeople. It is a good page giving the CCSs at which other men died. It says killed in action.

In spite of all the records of killed in action I am thinking that he was killed in some sort of accident. I would be grateful for colleagues thoughts and suggesions.

RM

Edit: I have just noticed a small note at the end of the entry in 1/7 Gordon Highlanders War Diary for 15 February 1917. "1 OR killed attached to TM Battery" - but no information about the circumstances.

Edited 7 May , 2022 by rolt968

[rolt968]

Thanks Gordon.

Reading through pages and pages of 153 Brigade War Diary for February 1917, mostly relating to the move of Corps (& Army) I came across this. I am not sure if it gives the position on 28 February 1917 or for the month. In fact there need not have been much difference as the working parties were ordered to stay where they were when the Brigade moved on 21 February 1917.

I have checked the War Diary of 185 Tunnelling Company RE, which surprisingly makes no mention of men from any unit of 153 Brigade. However it does mention an OR killed in action on 11 February 1917 - presumably by TMB fire since heavy TMB fire disrupted work on 9 February 1917.

Oddly the War Diary of 153 Brigade (unlike 1/7 GH) reports no deaths at all in February 1917.

Walter Alexander was in the "Drucat Area" on 3 February 1917 to receive his medal ribbon. (Presentation by GoC 51 Division) (153 Brigade War Diary).

I have changed my view. Walter Alexander was killed in action somewhere with a working party.

RM

Edited 8 May , 2022 by rolt968