eastsurreyregiment

There is no corresponding entry on the CWGC website so it would appear that Private Alexander survived the war. There are 2 candidates in the MIC records: Pte 23974 East Surrey Regt or Pte 10889 in the E Surrey Rgt, later G/81279 The Queen's Regiment.

There is a George Herbert Alexander in the 1911 census who was born circa 1881 in Battersea, Surrey [sic]. At that time he was a Surveyor's Clerk living at 71 Kelmscott Road in Battersea, who had married Alice Gertrude in 1909 and had a newly born son Clifford George.

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/

2nd Lt Frank Bray. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D1...

From medal card on www.ancestry.co.uk Address: 6 Hillfield Park, Muswell Hill, N10

From London Gazette www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29367/supplements/11310 Second Lieutenant on probation (16 Nov 1914)

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C1...

His probabtionary appointment appears to be from 1915 but even then it seems odd that he would have made it all the way through the war without a further promotion unless he had to resign his commission or remain in the UK. There is no obvious candidate on the Commonwealth War Graves site. The 3rd Battalion was the Regimental Depot and Training Battalion and never left the UK, which makes it seems odd as well that he would have had a Medal Index Card as he would not have served in a Theatre of War. There is a Battalion Diary of sorts which makes limited reference to Frank. 28-12-1915 Second Lieuts Blackman and Bray reported their arrival. qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ES00319151202.pdf 5-5-1916 2nd Lieut. Bray returned from Sick Leave. qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ES00319160401.pdf 13-6-1916 2nd Lieuts O'Hara and Bray left for Hythe. qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ES00319160602.pdf (That unfortunately is where the transcription ends)

What a man! Wonder what he did in WW II.

Account of the exploits that won him the Victoria Cross.

His medals on display at the Canadian War Museum.

Willem Nice info - thanks for adding it!

nice

IWM Collections IWM Collections obvisly

The Wikipedia article records him as born 29th June 1891 in the Marylebone area of London.

However, while the dob may be correct, his birth was actually registered in the Wandsworth District in the July to September 1891 quarter, and on the 1901 census he is recorded as born Herne Hill, Surrey !.

On that census, the 9 year old Benjamin was recorded at 131 Palace Road, Lambeth, living in the household of his widowed mother, Blandinah E, (aged 55 and from Islington, London, shown as Living on Own Means). Her other children living with her are:-
Arthur B..........aged 22....born Portman Square, London....Student
Ethel M...........aged 18....born Portman Square...Student, Kindergarten College, Stockwell
Grace S...........aged 11....born Portman Square
Herbert M.........aged 19....born Portman Square...Student
Stanley...........aged 21....born Portman Square...Government Clerk, Somerset House
Winifred M........aged 26....born North Audley Street, London

The battalions war diaries have been transcribed and are on-line.

On the 17th April the Royal Rngineers had blown a mine under the German Positions on Hill 60 and the 1st Battalion were pushed forward to assist with holding the newly won ground.

12th - 19th April 1915
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ESD0011915003.pdf
20th April 1915
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ESD0011915004.pdf
21st - 22nd April 1915
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ESD0011915005.pdf

"Lieutenant" Geary gets a mention on the 8th March 1915 as being on an officer patrol at night in no mans land
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ES00119150302.pdf