Description
Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, 9797 Private George Alexander, Scots Guards, from Belfast, Antrim.
Officially impressed: “9797 Pte G. Alexander Scots Gds”.
A pin has been fixed to the reverse of the OFS clasp for breast wear.
Confirmed on the medal roll.
With copy service papers.
George Alexander was born in Belfast, Antrim, Ireland (Now Northern Ireland), circa 1874.
He first signed up at Glasgow for the Army on 25th August 1892, aged 18.
However a look at Irish Birth records show that the only Belfast birth of a “George Alexander” there was in 1876, which would make him 16, he was already over 6 foot at the time, so he seems to have slipped by, this is also confirmed by the Census entries which match this.
The Alexander’s were all Irish, he was the son of George and Annie Alexander, he and all his family were born in Ireland, apart from his sister Maggie born in Maryhill, Glasgow, so he would have come to Glasgow as a child.
Notably for his time he stood at a commanding 6 feet 1 inches tall.
His professional conduct as a soldier is best described upon his discharge as “Indifferent”, being a large fellow he appears to have cared little about authority and spent plenty of time locked up.
Served:
Home, 25th Aug 1892 – 14th March 1900
South Africa, 15th March 1900 – 10th Sept 1900
Home, 11th Sept 1900 -10th Dec 1900.
His next of kin is listed as his brother Thomas Alexander, living in Argyle Lane, Maryhill, Glasgow.
After his discharge he returned back to Glasgow, and in 1901 was working as a Stableman at the Model Lodging House on Kelvin Street, Glasgow.
He later died in Glasgow during 1931.
His defaulters book entries:
At Pirbright, 13th July 1893, Offence: Refusing to obey an order given to him by a Non Commissioned Officer and not falling in for Escort when called upon.
Sentence: 14 days hard labour and imprisonment.
At Aldershot, 24th August 1893, Offence: Highly insubordinate conduct in camp about 5.45pm.
72 hours imprisonment, Hard Labour 7 D.C.B. (Days confined to barracks)
At London, 24th March 1894, Offence: Absent, Over pass till 6.35am on the 25th (6 Hour 35 minutes missing), Punishment: 3 DCB
At London, 10th August 1894, Offence: Not attending to an order given by a Non Commissioned Officer and making and improper remark, 168 hours imprisionment with hard labour.
At London, 12th June 1895, Offence: Absent from Tattoo till 9.30pm on the 13th and missed the Brigade Field Day (23 hours 30 minutes missing), deprived of 1 days pay and 5 D. C.B. (confined to barracks)
(J8391) V.F. £120
