Pte
Alexander Sandison McLeod
Informatie over geboorte
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Geboortedatum: 18/02/1898 |
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Geboorteplaats: Wick, Caithness, Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
Algemene Informatie
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Beroep: Dagloner |
Informatie legerdienst
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Land: Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Strijdmacht: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Service nummer: 241552 |
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Dienstneming plaats: Golspie, Sutherland, Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Eenheden: — Seaforth Highlanders, 1/6th Bn. (Morayshire) (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
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Datum van overlijden: 31/07/1917 |
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Plaats van overlijden: Maison du Rasta, België |
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Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Leeftijd: 19 |
Gedenkplaats
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Paneel: 38 |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 2
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British War Medal Medaille — 24/01/1921 |
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Victory Medal Medaille — 24/01/1921 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Geboorteplaats | ||
| #2 | Dienstneming plaats |
Mijn verhaal
Alexander Sandison was born in February 1898. He was the first child of Isabella Sandison and Donald McLeod of Wick, Caithness, Scotland. Alexander, like his father, worked as a farm labourer before he joined the army in Golspie, Sutherlandshire. By the summer of 1917 he served with the 1/6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (Morayshire), part of the 152nd Brigade, of the 51st (Highland) Division.
On 31 July 1917 the 1/6th Seaforths participated in the opening stage of the Battle of Passchendaele. After the 1/5th Seaforth Highlanders and 1/8th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders had captured the first objective, the 1/6th Seaforths and 1/6th Gordon Highlanders advanced towards the second and third objectives. At the second objective the Seaforths captured Macdonald’s Farm and Wood with the help of a tank and a platoon of the Gordons. The advance continued without resistance till they were forced to dig in at Ferdinand Farm, when they came under heavy fire from positions on the other bank of the Steenbeek stream. Between 3 and 4 p.m. a German counter-attack was checked and taking advantage of the chaotic situation the Seaforths crossed the Steenbeek. Once they had secured a bridgehead opposite Ferdinand Farm, the Seaforths were able to establish posts at Maison du Rasta and Maison du Bulgare. Further German counter-attacks however forced the troops on the Seaforths’ flanks to retreat to the western bank. With their flanks up in the air the Battalion had no choice then to withdraw to the Steenbeek.
Though the attack had been a success, casualties were high. 41 men were killed outright, 177 men were wounded and 21 men went missing. Alexander was killed during the attack on Ferdinand Farm, Maison du Rasta and Maison du Bulgare. Alexander, barely 19 years-old, has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
On 31 July 1917 the 1/6th Seaforths participated in the opening stage of the Battle of Passchendaele. After the 1/5th Seaforth Highlanders and 1/8th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders had captured the first objective, the 1/6th Seaforths and 1/6th Gordon Highlanders advanced towards the second and third objectives. At the second objective the Seaforths captured Macdonald’s Farm and Wood with the help of a tank and a platoon of the Gordons. The advance continued without resistance till they were forced to dig in at Ferdinand Farm, when they came under heavy fire from positions on the other bank of the Steenbeek stream. Between 3 and 4 p.m. a German counter-attack was checked and taking advantage of the chaotic situation the Seaforths crossed the Steenbeek. Once they had secured a bridgehead opposite Ferdinand Farm, the Seaforths were able to establish posts at Maison du Rasta and Maison du Bulgare. Further German counter-attacks however forced the troops on the Seaforths’ flanks to retreat to the western bank. With their flanks up in the air the Battalion had no choice then to withdraw to the Steenbeek.
Though the attack had been a success, casualties were high. 41 men were killed outright, 177 men were wounded and 21 men went missing. Alexander was killed during the attack on Ferdinand Farm, Maison du Rasta and Maison du Bulgare. Alexander, barely 19 years-old, has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Bronnen 6
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 30-31. Gebruikte bronnen |
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"The History of the fifty first (Highland) Division 1914 -1918", Bewsher F.W., Edinburgh, William Blackwood and Sons, 1921, pg. 205-215. Gebruikte bronnen |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Verdere verwijzing |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1622232/mcleod,-alexander/ Gebruikte bronnen |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Gebruikte bronnen |
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War Diary Seaforth Highlanders, 1/6th Bn. (Morayshire) http://www.nmarchive.com/ Verdere verwijzing |