Capt
Peter James Alexander
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 17/02/1895 |
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Place of birth: Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Captain |
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Units: — Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 8th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Varlet Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXV Row: D Grave: 14 |
Distinctions and medals 1
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Military Cross Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Peter James Alexander was born on 17 February 1895 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. He was the son of John Alexander and Mary Glen Alexander. He had two sisters: Helen McNiven Alexander and Margaret A. Alexander. In addition, the servant Margaret MacDonald also lived in their house. Peter was a good student and took an active part in social life so he had many friends at school. He joined the British Expeditionary Force as a second lieutenant, but was promoted to captain in the 8th Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Regiment (26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division).
Shortly after Peter's arrival in France, he was wounded in both his legs on 7 November 1915 as machine-gun officer of his battalion at Authville. He was able to return to France as early as autumn 1916. After this, he was attached to the 8th Battalion Black Watch Regiment.
On Thursday 12 October 1917, the day Peter died, the First Battle of Passchendaele took place. This battle was the penultimate phase of the Battle of Passchendaele. After previous Allied successes, including the capture of Messines Ridge and Pilkem Ridge, a new offensive was planned by British, Australian and New Zealand troops to capture the Passchendaele Ridge from the Germans and push them back. A first attempt to advance failed on 9 October 1917, after which British Empire troops tried a new attack on 12 October 1917, despite poor weather conditions. Indeed, heavy rain had fallen during the night of 11 to 12 October 1917, leaving troops up to their ankles or knees in mud. Then, in the early morning of 12 October, it began to drizzle, which later turned into torrential rain. The attack was a costly defeat for the Allies with many casualties on both sides so the attack was called off the next day, on 13 October 1917, and postponed until the weather improved. It was not until 26 October 1917 that a second attempt to capture Passchendaele took place at the Second Battle of Passchendaele, led by the Canadian Corps.
On 10 October 1917, the 8th Battalion left Siege Camp at 8.45 am and proceeded to Reigersburg Camp via the predetermined routes. There the battalion bivouacked until 7 pm. 15 minutes later, the battalion companies went to different positions via their routes: the A and B Companies went to Canopus Trench, the C and D Companies went to California Drive and the battalion headquarters went to Cheddar Villa. All battalion companies remained in their positions until 7 am on 11 October, after which they moved to assembly positions: the A and B Companies went via Mousetrap Track, Springfield Farm and X tracks, the C and D Companies went via Alberta Farm and Y tracks and battalion headquarters went via Mousetrap Track and Springfield Farm to Victoria Farm. Between 2 am and 4 am on 12 October, the battalion was subjected to gas shelling with gas grenades by the Germans.
The A and B Companies had problems finding their correct starting positions after leaving assembly positions, but were eventually able to reach their starting positions by 4 am on 12 October. This caused a few casualties due to German shelling some 100 yards behind the battalion. Both companies gained contact with the 3rd Battalion New-Zealand Rifle Brigade, but were unable to contact the C and D Companies of the 8th Battalion on their left.
On the other side, the C and D Companies marched to their starting positions from the left of the other companies as per the order. They gained contact with the 5th Battalion Cameron Highlanders Regiment and the 10th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regiment on their left and with the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment on their right. But they could not get in touch with the A and B Companies of the 8th Battalion Black Watch Regiment.
When all the companies were at their starting positions, the 9th Division attacked at 5.35 am with the 26th Brigade. The 27th Brigade was in support. The 26th Brigade advanced from a line between Terrier Farm and Adler Farm, which were the brigade's starting positions. At the start of the attack, all four companies of the 8th Battalion seemed to advance in their respective lines and follow the barrage. But soon a gap fell between the right-hand companies, which were the A and B Companies, and the left-hand companies, which were the C and D Companies, as they failed to make contact with each other. The gap, however, was immediately filled by the left rear company of the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment.
A Company of the 8th Battalion soon encountered opposition from German rifle fire in the vicinity of Adler Farm, i.e. from their starting positions. However, the company was able to deal with it by lewis gun and rifle fire. The company again received heavy German shelling and heavy machine-gun fire from nearby flanks, but the company was able to make progress until they stopped and consolidated a line of shell funnels as ground conditions allowed. During this operation, the company was exposed to heavy German shelling and machine-gun fire from the left flank. The company was relieved on the night of 13 October.
B Company passed A Company to reach Wallemolen, situated close to Varlet Farm, the place where Peter had been killed. The B Company had New Zealand and Royal Scots troops on their right. The company tried to dig in on a line from north of Wallemolen to a cemetery located between Wallemolen and Wolf Farm. There they were exposed to machine-gun fire from the front on the flanks and from snipers. At 3 pm, the company faced small counterattacks from the Germans when the front line was heavily shelled by them. In the evening of 13 October, the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment formed a protective line from the left of their positions up to Inch House. B Company was finally relieved by the South Africans on the night of 13-14 October.
C Company advanced close to the barrage at the start of the attack. However, the company had to change direction to the right because they were going too left. The company was held up by German snipers and machine-gun fire on the trench from ten east of Vacher Farm. Despite this, the company was able to advance 100 yards towards Vacher Farm and consolidated a line of shell funnels around Vacher Farm. The company was able to contact the 10th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regiment on their left and the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment and the Royal Scots after consolidation. However, the company was unable to make contact with the A Company of their own battalion on the right. Finally, the company was relieved by South Africans on the morning of 14 October.
From the start, D Company could not make contact with B Company on the right as they were advancing. As the company reached the east side of Vacher Farm they came under German rifle and machine gun fire from the direction of Oxford Houses. As Oxford Houses was taken by a supporting battalion, D Company reorganised and consolidated a line from Oxford Houses to the east side of Vacher Farm. There, the company had the C Company on their right and the 5th Battalion Cameron Highlanders Regiment on their left. However, the company was still unable to make contact with the A and B Companies. The company was relieved on the night of 13 October to 14 October.
The First Battle of Passchendaele caused many difficulties for the 8th Battalion Black Watch Regiment. The different companies lost their way and could not make contact with each other. Moreover, it was impossible for the companies to find their objectives because many objectives had been destroyed by shellfire and as a result of the heavy mud. The presence of runners, who could carry messages between the companies and battalion headquarters, also caused problems as many runners were killed. The number of stretcher-bearers was also too few compared to the demand and need for stretcher-bearers. Finally, poor weather conditions and strong and continuous German shelling and sniping also caused many difficulties.
Moreover, the First Battle of Passchendaele also caused many casualties in the 8th Battalion. Casualties ranged from 275 to 353: 36 to 88 soldiers were missing, 200 to 221 soldiers were wounded, one died of his wounds and 38 to 43 soldiers were killed in action. The latter included 22-year-old Peter James Alexander. He died at Varlet Farm. It is therefore possible that Peter was captain of B Company in the battalion and died while reaching positions at Wallemolen, which was below Varlet Farm. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXXV, Row D, Grave 14).
Shortly after Peter's arrival in France, he was wounded in both his legs on 7 November 1915 as machine-gun officer of his battalion at Authville. He was able to return to France as early as autumn 1916. After this, he was attached to the 8th Battalion Black Watch Regiment.
On Thursday 12 October 1917, the day Peter died, the First Battle of Passchendaele took place. This battle was the penultimate phase of the Battle of Passchendaele. After previous Allied successes, including the capture of Messines Ridge and Pilkem Ridge, a new offensive was planned by British, Australian and New Zealand troops to capture the Passchendaele Ridge from the Germans and push them back. A first attempt to advance failed on 9 October 1917, after which British Empire troops tried a new attack on 12 October 1917, despite poor weather conditions. Indeed, heavy rain had fallen during the night of 11 to 12 October 1917, leaving troops up to their ankles or knees in mud. Then, in the early morning of 12 October, it began to drizzle, which later turned into torrential rain. The attack was a costly defeat for the Allies with many casualties on both sides so the attack was called off the next day, on 13 October 1917, and postponed until the weather improved. It was not until 26 October 1917 that a second attempt to capture Passchendaele took place at the Second Battle of Passchendaele, led by the Canadian Corps.
On 10 October 1917, the 8th Battalion left Siege Camp at 8.45 am and proceeded to Reigersburg Camp via the predetermined routes. There the battalion bivouacked until 7 pm. 15 minutes later, the battalion companies went to different positions via their routes: the A and B Companies went to Canopus Trench, the C and D Companies went to California Drive and the battalion headquarters went to Cheddar Villa. All battalion companies remained in their positions until 7 am on 11 October, after which they moved to assembly positions: the A and B Companies went via Mousetrap Track, Springfield Farm and X tracks, the C and D Companies went via Alberta Farm and Y tracks and battalion headquarters went via Mousetrap Track and Springfield Farm to Victoria Farm. Between 2 am and 4 am on 12 October, the battalion was subjected to gas shelling with gas grenades by the Germans.
The A and B Companies had problems finding their correct starting positions after leaving assembly positions, but were eventually able to reach their starting positions by 4 am on 12 October. This caused a few casualties due to German shelling some 100 yards behind the battalion. Both companies gained contact with the 3rd Battalion New-Zealand Rifle Brigade, but were unable to contact the C and D Companies of the 8th Battalion on their left.
On the other side, the C and D Companies marched to their starting positions from the left of the other companies as per the order. They gained contact with the 5th Battalion Cameron Highlanders Regiment and the 10th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regiment on their left and with the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment on their right. But they could not get in touch with the A and B Companies of the 8th Battalion Black Watch Regiment.
When all the companies were at their starting positions, the 9th Division attacked at 5.35 am with the 26th Brigade. The 27th Brigade was in support. The 26th Brigade advanced from a line between Terrier Farm and Adler Farm, which were the brigade's starting positions. At the start of the attack, all four companies of the 8th Battalion seemed to advance in their respective lines and follow the barrage. But soon a gap fell between the right-hand companies, which were the A and B Companies, and the left-hand companies, which were the C and D Companies, as they failed to make contact with each other. The gap, however, was immediately filled by the left rear company of the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment.
A Company of the 8th Battalion soon encountered opposition from German rifle fire in the vicinity of Adler Farm, i.e. from their starting positions. However, the company was able to deal with it by lewis gun and rifle fire. The company again received heavy German shelling and heavy machine-gun fire from nearby flanks, but the company was able to make progress until they stopped and consolidated a line of shell funnels as ground conditions allowed. During this operation, the company was exposed to heavy German shelling and machine-gun fire from the left flank. The company was relieved on the night of 13 October.
B Company passed A Company to reach Wallemolen, situated close to Varlet Farm, the place where Peter had been killed. The B Company had New Zealand and Royal Scots troops on their right. The company tried to dig in on a line from north of Wallemolen to a cemetery located between Wallemolen and Wolf Farm. There they were exposed to machine-gun fire from the front on the flanks and from snipers. At 3 pm, the company faced small counterattacks from the Germans when the front line was heavily shelled by them. In the evening of 13 October, the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment formed a protective line from the left of their positions up to Inch House. B Company was finally relieved by the South Africans on the night of 13-14 October.
C Company advanced close to the barrage at the start of the attack. However, the company had to change direction to the right because they were going too left. The company was held up by German snipers and machine-gun fire on the trench from ten east of Vacher Farm. Despite this, the company was able to advance 100 yards towards Vacher Farm and consolidated a line of shell funnels around Vacher Farm. The company was able to contact the 10th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regiment on their left and the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment and the Royal Scots after consolidation. However, the company was unable to make contact with the A Company of their own battalion on the right. Finally, the company was relieved by South Africans on the morning of 14 October.
From the start, D Company could not make contact with B Company on the right as they were advancing. As the company reached the east side of Vacher Farm they came under German rifle and machine gun fire from the direction of Oxford Houses. As Oxford Houses was taken by a supporting battalion, D Company reorganised and consolidated a line from Oxford Houses to the east side of Vacher Farm. There, the company had the C Company on their right and the 5th Battalion Cameron Highlanders Regiment on their left. However, the company was still unable to make contact with the A and B Companies. The company was relieved on the night of 13 October to 14 October.
The First Battle of Passchendaele caused many difficulties for the 8th Battalion Black Watch Regiment. The different companies lost their way and could not make contact with each other. Moreover, it was impossible for the companies to find their objectives because many objectives had been destroyed by shellfire and as a result of the heavy mud. The presence of runners, who could carry messages between the companies and battalion headquarters, also caused problems as many runners were killed. The number of stretcher-bearers was also too few compared to the demand and need for stretcher-bearers. Finally, poor weather conditions and strong and continuous German shelling and sniping also caused many difficulties.
Moreover, the First Battle of Passchendaele also caused many casualties in the 8th Battalion. Casualties ranged from 275 to 353: 36 to 88 soldiers were missing, 200 to 221 soldiers were wounded, one died of his wounds and 38 to 43 soldiers were killed in action. The latter included 22-year-old Peter James Alexander. He died at Varlet Farm. It is therefore possible that Peter was captain of B Company in the battalion and died while reaching positions at Wallemolen, which was below Varlet Farm. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXXV, Row D, Grave 14).
Sources 4
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26 Infantry Brigade: 8 Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1766/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Scotland, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p. 133. Sources used |
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Soldier's Effects records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461721 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=ba81ee50-2a82-41f3-bc68-d1e790c11735 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/11045 |