Alexander Cameron likeness

Alexander Cameron cap badgePrivate Alexander Cameron

2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers
Service No: 6674

Alexander Cameron grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Only son of James Cameron (08/07/1862 - 31/12/1947) and Mary Cameron (21/05/1875 - /07/1956) of 11 Summerlee St, Coatbridge. In his Will dated 06/12/1914 Alex left all his belongings to his mother. Alexander had 2 younger sisters, Elizabeth Allison Cameron (23/05/1900 - 20/03/1995) and Mary Cameron (1906 - 20/04/1952). From the 1901 Census - Address - 12 Summerlee St, Coatbridge - James Cameron aged 28, Mary Cameron aged 23, Alexander Cameron aged 3, Lizzie Cameron aged 10 months and visitor Kate Vallene aged 18. Alexander's Pension was awarded to his mother Mary on the 18/05/1916.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 11 Summerlee St, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 15/12/1914 at Lindenhoek near Ypres

Enlisted

Coatbridge 05/01/1914 (Army Reserve)

Employed

Labourer in the Summerlee Works / Reservist, Boy Soldier (Stretcher Bearer).

Age

16 / DOB - /03/1898

Buried / Remembered

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 22), Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, often referred to simply as the Menin Gate, bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died before 16 August 1917 and have no known grave. Between October 1914 and September 1918 hundreds of thousands of servicemen of the British Empire marched through the town of Ypres's Menin Gate on their way to the battlefields. The memorial now stands as a reminder of those who died who have no known grave and is perhaps one of the most well-known war memorials in the world. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 15/08/1914 and were part of the 13th Brigade, 5th Division. Alexander arrived on the 05/12/1914. ALEXANDER WAS THE YOUNGEST COATBRIDGE MAN ON OUR MEMORIAL TO FALL. He was 15 years old and just over 5 foot 3 inches in height and weighed just over 107 pounds when he enlisted on the 05/01/1914. He fell on the 15/12/1914 just 10 days after arriving in Belgium and this brave young man has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium. According to the Battalion War Diary they were in trenches in Lindenhoek. It states on the 15/12/1914 : "state of our trenches horrible to stand in, men becoming very exhausted, also owing to crumbling parapets, dangerous. CASUALTIES - 1 Killed 5 Wounded". It appears young Alexander was the man killed. SEE PHOTOS x 9 FOR THE 2nd BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR DECEMBER 1914 INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING : The Battalion War Diary on Christmas Day 1914 states - St. Jans Cappell : "REST - Princess Mary's Gifts of an ornamental box containing cigarettes + tobacco + a pipe + a card of good wishes given out to every man in France. Also a Xmas Card with a portrait of H.M. King George V + of The Queen. Their good wishes is issued as a surprise to every man. Owing to the kindness of people at home great quantities of warm clothing, tobacco + eatables are issued to the troops. It is reported from the trenches that at various points during Xmas Eve + on Xmas Day the Officers + men of the BAVARIAN LANDWEHR opposed to us in this portion of the line made overtures of peace for a Xmas holiday. These were very generally accepted. At one point a football match was played between the opposing sides. Food + tobacco were exchanged + the opposing sides visited each others trenches. The BAVARIANS were reported to be looking well fed + in a good state, but in some cases in want of clothes. They are reported of been in ignorance of the present state of affairs on the Russian border to have been told that the GERMANS had won enormous victories there + that the war was to be over in a month (From hearsay evidence from Officers + others)". Sadly young Alexander never seen Christmas 1914. Also see Alexander's Service Record (1) which states he was 18 when he enlisted in January 1914. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the 1901 Census and the Newspaper clipping state Alexander was 16 when he fell. See photos for a letter from the War Office to Alexander's parents. This was sent from Lord Kitchener - "The King commands me to assure you of the deep sympathy of His Majesty and the Queen on your sorrow". Alexander is also remembered on the St. Augustine's Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Alexander's Medal Index Card, Newspaper clippings x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel List, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial, the King's Own Scottish Borderers Cap Badge, Alexander's Pension Records x 2 and Alexander's Service Records x 11 (listed as 18 when he enlisted). Finally. see photos for Alexander's sister Mary, Newspaper clippings x 4 (Coatbridge Express x 1, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2), PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 5th DIVISION BOOK NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 1914, the 5th Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division Alexander was with when he died) and a photo of Alexander's youngest sister Mary and her husband Robert Ferguson kindly donated by his great grandson John Greenaway. ALEXANDER MAY HAVE SPENT JUST 10 DAYS ON ACTIVE SERVICE BUT THIS BRAVE YOUNG MAN WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY THE PEOPLE OF HIS HOMETOWN.

Photos
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War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

Comments
So so sad. What his family must have gone through It does not bear thinking about. He was just a boy.
Anne Richardson, Coatbridge, 17/04/2024 1:15PM
Thank you for your service. Such bravery for a young man. Rest in Peace.
Peter, Summerlee, Coatbridge , 20/03/2022 2:12PM

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