375063 Sergeant
11th Battalion Royal Scots, 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division
Age: 21
Date of Death: 22.10.17
Buried: Dozinghem Military Cemetery XI.E.21
Family history: Son of John and Helen Thomson, 31 Corbiehall, Bo’ness. He had a brother, William. His mother died at age 28 and his father remarried in 1900.
He had joined the local Territorial Battalion, 1/10th (Cyclist) Battalion, royal Scots in 1912 and was mobilised on 5 August 1914. He spent nearly three years on coastal defence before he volunteered for overseas service arriving in France on 8 June 1917, and joined the 11th Battalion Royal Scots. Interestingly, his father also enlisted joining the Royal Engineers as a Sapper.
The action leading to his death
On the 22 October the Battalion was in the rear area at St Julien and were providing working parties for the forward areas. During this period hostile artillery and aircraft shelled and bombed the back areas and the approaches, causing many casualties to the reliefs and working parties between St Julien and the front line.
(Linesman Map showing British frontline at 13 September 1917)
Alexander was wounded in one of these attacks and was taken down the line to Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station were he died of his wounds. Most of the graves are men who had inoperable wounds.
He is listed in the De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Medals
The British War Medal, Victory Medal
Headstone
