dso

The Hon. Herbrand Charles Alexander (1888 - 1965)

From the Wikipedia entry for his father, the 4th Earl of Caledon: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Alexander,_4th_Earl_of_Caledon

"Lt.-Col. Hon. Herbrand Charles Alexander DSO (28 November 1888 – 6 May 1965), who fought with the 5th Lancers during the First World War and was mentioned in despatches three times, and in the Second World War as a Lieutenant Colonel of the Pioneer Corps. He married, firstly, Millicent Meredyth, only daughter of Sir Henry Meredyth, 5th Baronet, in 1919 (divorced 1927), and had issue: (i) Denis Alexander, 6th Earl of Caledon. He married, secondly, the Hon. Ada Kate Bellew (who died in 1994), daughter of the late Hon. Richard Eustace Bellew and granddaughter of Edward Bellew, 2nd Baron Bellew, in 1937."

This would make him the older brother of Harold Alexander, the well-known commander of the 8th Army in the Second World War, afterwards Field Marshal the Right Honourable the Earl Alexander of Tunis: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Alexander,_1st_Earl_Alexande...

His mother was Lady Elizabeth Graham-Toler, daughter of Hector Graham-Toler, 3rd Earl of Norbury.

Google searches reveal an interest in horses and polo not unusual for a cavalry officer.

The Peerage page: thepeerage.com/p8033.htm

National Portrait Gallery images: www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp82960/hon-herb...

There are also a few mentions in the London Gazette and other places:

London Gazette, 26 January 1909, p. 663:
"The undermentioned University Candidates and Gentlemen Cadets from The Royal Military College to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 27th January, 1909 :--
CAVALRY.
[...]
5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, The Honourable Herbrand Charles Alexander, in succession to Lieutenant G. G. M. Tyrrell, promoted."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28218/pages/663/

Promoted Lieutenant, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, 1 March 1910 (The Times, 9 May 1910)
www.newspapers.com/newspage/33252244/

London Gazette, 6 May 1910, p. 3164:
"War Office, Whitehall,
6th May, 1910.
REGULAR FORCES.
[...]
CAVALRY.
[...]
5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, Second Lieutenant The Honourable Herbrand C. Alexander to be Lieutenant, vice G. C. Juler, seconded. Dated 1st March, 1910."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28363/pages/3164/

Mentioned in Despatches by Field-Marshal J. D. P. French, see: London Gazette, 20 October 1914, p. 8380:
"LIST OF NAMES REFERRED TO IN DESPATCH DATED 8 OCTOBER, 1914.
[...]
5th Lancers.
Major J. B. Jardine, D.S.O.
Lieutenant B. W. Robinson.
Lieutenant Hon. H. C. Alexander.
Second Lieutenant W. H. Coulter.
Lieutenant T. De Burgh, Indian Army (attached).
Lieutenant Owen Gough, Indian Army (attached).
No. 5752 Serjeant C. Graham.
No. 4118 Corporal A. Davis.
No. 7130 Corporal R. Ware.
No. 6801 Corporal M. Shutt.
No. 5088 Lance-Corporal E. Wass.
No. 1914 Corporal D. G. Baker.
No. 5131 Corporal E. Grant.
No. 1961 Lance-Corporal G. Inch.
No. 2544 Lance-Corporal D. Mullock.
No. 7321 Serjeant F. D. Wyatt."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28945/pages/8380/

London Gazette, 12 December 1914, p. 10662:
5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, Lieutenant The Honourable Herbrand C. Alexander to be Captain. Dated 11th November, 1914
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29005/supplements/10662/

London Gazette, 11 February 1919, p. 2068:
"CAVALRY.
[...]
5th Lrs.-- Capt. the Hon. H. C. Alexander, D.S.O., relinquishes the actg. rank of Lt.-Col., and reverts to the actg. rank of Maj. whilst empld. as Maj. on Hd.-Qrs. of a Regt. 14th Dec. 1918."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31172/supplements/2068/

London Gazette, 1 November 1919, p. 13398:
"CAVALRY.
[...]
5th Lrs.-- Capt. the Hon. H. C. Alexander, D.S.O., to be actg. Maj., from 14th Dec. 1918 to 1st Apr. 1919"
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31626/supplements/13398/


London Gazette, 24 November 1922, p. 8299:
"REGIMENTAL LIST.
CAVALRY.
The undermentioned are transfd., and retain their present seniority: --
[...]
From 5th L.
[...]
The Hon. H. C. Alexander, D.S.O."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32770/pages/8299/

London Gazette, 9 March 1945, p. 1365:
"ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS.
[...]
16th/5th L.
Ret. Oftr. re-empld.
Maj. The Hon. H. C. Alexander, D.S.O. (59102) is granted the hon. rank of Lt.-Col., 14th Mar. 1945, on ceasing to be employed."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36977/supplements/1365/

The DSO:

Edinburgh Gazette, 8 January 1915, pp. 45-46:
"WAR OFFICE, January 1, 1915.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the appointment of the undermentioned Officers to be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order, in recognition | of their services with the Expeditionary Force,
specified below :
Captain The Honourable Herbrand Charles Alexander, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers.
Has done exceedingly good work in action, and in reconnaissance, since the commencement of the war."
www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/12759/pages/46/

there is a very detailed account of the Major's involvement in part of the war at www.gutenberg.org/files/20527/20527-h/20527-h.htm

Arthur Lindley Ashwell was a Solicitor before the Great War; as was his father and his grandfather, who was a JP. Arthur received an OBE and lived to the grand old age of 101! born 1886 died 1987. RIP

Cdr Cedric Naylor born 12 June 1891, DSO and 2 Bars,DSC. Served in RNR, transferred to RN with seniority as Lieutenant 19 December 1916 and Lieutenant Commander 19 December 1924. retired as Commander 12 June 1936. Recalled for war service in 1939. Retired with War Service rank of Acting Captain in August 1945. Service record available online.

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/download.asp?...

Attended Preston Grammar School.
Served on 'Q' Ships on anti submarine operations. An excellent write up of Cedric's very interesting war can be found at
Preston Grammar School Article
and
HMS Penshurst
Forum discussion on Lt Naylor
Additional pictures


DSC gazetted 16/02/1917.
DSO gazetted 28/08/1917 "For services in action with enemy submarines".
Confirmed Lieutenant (from Temporary Lieutenant) 27/09/1917 for distinguished service in action, with seniority from 19/12/1916.
Bar to DSO gazetted 02/12/1917 "For services in action with enemy submarines".
2nd Bar to DSO gazetted 19/02/1918 "For services in action with enemy submarines".

1939 Master of the Fulham Road Institute

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/