Ernest Wright Alexander was born at 4
Devonshire Road, Toxteth Park, Liverpool on the 2nd October 1870 and was the first of more than 20 Merseyside men to gain
the highest accolade for bravery during the 1914-18 conflict. His father
Robert, originally from Belfast, moved to Liverpool in the 1850s to
set up his own business as a shipbroker.
Ernest was educated at Cherbourg House Preparatory School at Malvern 1876-1881, privately at home 1881-1884 and at Harrow 1884-1887, where he was a member of the Rifle Corps. He entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in January 1888 and was commissioned the following year. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1892, and then served in India until 1900 with the 60th Battery at Barrackpore. He was promoted to Captain in 1899.
On 1st September 1903, he married Rose Newcome and they went on to have four children, Annie
and Robert born in India in 1904 and 1905 respectively, George William
born in Ireland in 1911 (sadly died in 1914) and Mary, born in 1918 in
Hampshire. The family returned to India, where he served with the 79th
Battery at Cawnpore, Barrackpore and Umballa from 1903-1906. He was
promoted to Major in 1906 and then served in Seaforth, Lancashire. He
was then given command of 119th Battery, XXVII Brigade RFA at
Ballincollig, County Cork in 1911, and the family lived near the
Curragh.
He embarked from Dublin with his battery on 4th August 1914 and disembarked in France on 20th August 1914, and just four days later would be involved in the incident which led to the Victoria Cross.
On 24th August 1914, the order was given to withdraw
from the Mons-Conde Canal, so Alexander led his men under heavy fire over 300 metres
of open ground to manhandle the guns into the cover of the embankment. He also rescued a man under heavy fire. Only
one wagon and a limber was lost, but 119th Battery suffered 46
casualties including ten killed, and lost 43 horses.
It
was said in his later citation’s "he handled his battery against
overwhelming odds with such conspicuous success that all his guns were
saved, notwithstanding that they had to be withdrawn by hand by himself
and by three other men".
Alexander’s VC was gazetted on 18th February 1915, and he received the medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 12th July 1915. He was then appointed Commander of XXII Brigade RFA in the 7th Division and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 30th October 1914. He rose through the ranks during the rest of the War, finishing as Temporary Major General. He received the Companion of Bath in 1919, the Croix de Guerre, Cavalier of the Military Order of Savoy 5th Class, and Grand Officer of the Military Order of Aviz 2nd Class for his service. He was also mentioned in despatches ten times.
At the end of the War, he reverted to Lieutenant Colonel on 24th March 1919. He was promoted to Colonel two months later, and was appointed to command Royal Artillery 2nd Division, Southern Area, Aldershot Command. His wife, Rose, was also appointed OBE for her work as Chairman and Honorary Organiser of the Aldershot War Hospital Supply Depot. He retired on 1st October 1920 as Honorary Major General and settled at Horswell House, South Milton, Kingsbridge, Devon where he employed three men on the estate who served with him at Elouges. He became a JP in 1922, and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Devon in 1931.
He died following an operation at The South Hams
Hospital, Kingsbridge on 25th August 1934 and was cremated at Putney
Vale Crematorium, his ashes placed in the family grave at Putney
Vale Cemetery. In addition to his VC and decorations already mentioned,
he received the 1914 Star with Mons clasp, British War Medal 1914-20,
Victory Medal 1914-19 with Mentioned in Despatches oak leaf and the King
Edward VII Coronation Medal of 1902.
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| His medal collection on display at the Imperial War Museum, London. |
A commemorative paving stone was unveiled at Sunburst Gates at Princes Park, Liverpool in August 2014 in a ceremony attended by Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Erica Kemp, veterans and serving soldiers from the Royal Artillery and members of the Friends of Princes Park. Lord Mayor Erica Kemp said: "Ernest Alexander was a brave and fearless soldier whose selfless actions saved many lives. It will be a permanent reminder of the incredible contribution that he made to the war effort and his role in making sure that more soldiers weren't lost." The stone is part of a national scheme run by the Department for Communities and Local Government, where every World War One Victoria Cross recipient will be remembered.
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