Private Harold Leslie Alexander (2551)
Harold Leslie Alexander (RSL War Memorial, 2017)
Harold Leslie Alexander was born on 1 July 1893 in Renmark South Australia. He was the son of Henry Holdsworth Grierson Alexander and Eva Benson. Harold and his family moved to the town of Port Elliot, South Australia, where he remained for 22 years.
Prior to his enlistment on 7th April 1915 (RSL War Memorial, 2017), Harold wrote a will stating “in the event of my death I give the whole of my property and it’s affects to my mother Mrs. E. Benson Denman Terrance Lower Mitcham, Adelaide, South Australia” (NAA, 2017). Three months after his 23 year old brother Eric enlisted and embarked overseas, Harold himself 22 years old enlisted on 16th June 1915 (RSL War Memorial, 2017).
Picture of the 27th Battalion (RSL Virtual War Memorial 2017)
After initial training at Keswick Barracks Harold went on to serve for 18 months in Gallipoli, where he managed to remain relatively healthy and injury free. After the Gallipoli Campaign ended Alexander was transferred to Pozières, France where sadly he was killed in action in 1916. Although Harold died on the 4th August, his death was not listed or recorded as killed in action until the 12th August (NAA,2017).
Prior to his death Harold and his brother Eric both fought in the 27th Battalion. They were both in the trenches when it was hit by an enemy shell. It was not the shell that killed Harold but the impact of the shell which caused the trench to collapse on both of them. Fortunately Eric survived the attack but sadly Harold was unable to make it out alive (RSL War Memorial, 2017). We can only imagine the horror his brother experienced at seeing Harold die in front of him.
Harold’s brother Eric Carnaige Alexander (RSL Virtual War Memeorial)
Although Harold had listed his mother as next of kin, when he died the army sent her a letter asking if Harold’s father was alive, which he was not (NAA, 2017). Eventually Harold’s kit, which consisted of two notebooks, corkscrew, handkerchief, hairbrush, a gospel, first aid kit and three military books, were forwarded to his mother (NAA, 2017). After his death, Harold was posthumously awarded three medals; these included the British War Medal, Star Medal and a Victory Medal (NAA, 2017).
Reference List
National Archives of Australia (2017). NAA: B2455, ALEXANDER H L page 5. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3025684 [Accessed on 15 September 2017].
RSL Virtual War Memorial (2017). Harold Leslie ALEXANDER. Available at: https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/106563 [Accessed 15 September 2017].