Alexander was born on 12th April 1898 in Belfast, County Antrim to William and Ellen.
He was mentioned on the 1901 census at his Grandparents home in Upper Meadow Street, Dock Ward, Antrim and on the 1911 census aged thirteen, living at Rutherford Street along with his parents and two brothers and noted as attending school. Prior to him joining the Navy he worked as a latch boy in a factory.
He began his naval training with HMS IMPREGNABLE on 27th January 1915 as a Boy 2nd Class, rising to Boy 1st Class on 30th April 1915. He had signed up for twelve years service, described as 5’3” tall with brown hair, grey eyes and having a scar on his left forearm. He joined HMS VANGUARD, his only ship, on 1st May 1915, rising to Ordinary Seaman on his eighteenth birthday, 12th April 1916 and shortly after serving during the Battle of Jutland. Later that year, on 12th December 1916 Alexander was recovered and sentenced to fourteen days in cells for deserting. He commenced his service on 6th January 1917, sadly killed aged nineteen.
Alexander was awarded the Victory and British war medals which were issued to his father following his death - his pension was awarded to his Grandmother Margaret.
#144 - 36/843
Sources:
Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958
1901 & 1911 Ireland Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 715
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 007 (1914 - 1919)
CWGC Register
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 94
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0163
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 747/12d
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