10226 L/Cpl
1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 76th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division
Age: 23
Date of Death: 29.4.16
Buried: Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery M.22
Family history: Son of William Forbes, of Fern Cottage, Mosstodloch, Fochabers, Morayshire. He was originally from Forres. He was living at 16 Herbertshire Street, Denny. Prior to enlisting on 1 May 1915 he had been employed as a police constable for two and a half years serving in Denny burgh.
The action leading to his death
The battalion were occupying the trenches in front of Maedelstede Farm, a sector they had been in and out of since 1914. The War Diary records that two prisoners had surrendered to the battalion on their right and that they had indicated that a German gas attack was imminent. The attack was made at 12.30am with a bombardment lasting two hours and gas released opposite ‘A’ Company of the Gordons however, owing to the wind direction it did not drift over their lines. The main attack took place on their immediate right. The German shelling ceased at dawn. Battalion causalities were two officer wounded, and 14 other ranks killed and 21 wounded.
(Linesman Map)
The report in the Falkirk Herald of Alexanders death mentions that he was struck by a piece of shell ‘to the heart’.
Medals Awarded:
The British War Medal, Victory Medal
