William E Alexander Pte RMA

[delta]

I am trying to find out about those soldiers who names appear on the memorial in Grateley Church Hampshire to add to the local website.

I am having difficutly identifying any information about William E Alexander. He is recorded on the memorial as a private soldier in the RMA (Royal Marine Artillery?), however no record of his death is given on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website.

Can some-one give me a steer where else to look?

[Terry Denham]

There could be several reasons why he does seem to appear on the CWGC site.

1) He died after the cut-off date of 31.08.21

2) He served under a different name or initials

3) The name on the memorial is an error (wrong name/didn't die)

4) He has been left off the CWGC site in error

5) He died after discharge of a non-war related (officially) cause but still added to memorial

Have you any more information on this man?

[delta]

Regrettably I cannot provide any more details - I have cheked the cenus for 1901 and he was not in the village at that time; there are a number of serving William Alexander but none in the RMA.

Talking of which, am I right to assumew that he did serve in the Royal Marine Artillery - it is an organisation with which I am unfamiliar. If so are there any records of their activities in the War; do you tjhink that the RM Muesum at Eastney may have his details aor are they only likely to be in the PRO?

[Chris_Baker]

The records of men in the RMA are held at the PRO in series ADM159. They each have a page in a very, very large and heavy leather bound volume, that gives good detail of his description, postings, medical history, etc. Some very limited family details (place of birth, trade, next of kin).

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Chris

thank you for the hint