Historical records matching Christopher James Alexander
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About Christopher James Alexander
Christopher James Alexander was an English ornithologist.
Alexander showed a love of natural history from an early age which continued up until his death. As a schoolboy he kept detailed notes of observations on birds, plants, and insects. He continued these daily notes after he left school for the rest of his life. He observed the song of birds, the first blossoming of flowers, appearance of certain insects, and appearance, increase, decrease, departure and passage of migrants - until the day of his death.
He made very detailed observations of bird-distribution and migration, first in Kent and other parts of England, and then in Rome. Whilst at war in Flanders he still made detailed records, observing the birds throughout autumn and winter and in The Somme in July.
In 1916, Alexander came back to England from Rome so that he could serve in the army. He enlisted as a Private, and joined the Buffs on 29 February 1916. During his training he was based mainly in Dover, but in June of that year, he was sent to France. There, fighting at the Somme, in Belgium, Alexander was able to alleviate his grim surroundings somewhat by looking and listening to birds. He was often rewarded by the sight of a Green Sandpiper in a flooded trench or a Great Grey Shrike on the battlefield.
In 1917, while on sentry duty, Alexander broke his leg. The injury was assumed to be just a sprain and was not properly treated for more than two weeks. He was then sent back to Britain, and spent his convalescence in Monmouthshire, Wales. After more training until his leg was fully healed, Alexander was sent back to France. It was near Passchendaele on 4 October 1917, that he was seriously wounded in battle. It is almost certain that he was killed or died later that same day, after being put into an ambulance.
ALEXANDER, CHRISTOPHER JAMES
- Rank: Private
- Service No: G/24732
- Date of Death: 05/10/1917
- Age: 30
- Regiment/Service: The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 2nd Bn.
- Grave Reference: I. A. 13.
- Cemetery: HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
- Additional Information: Son of Joseph Gundry Alexander and Josephine Alexander, of 15, Eldridge Rd., Croydon. Born at Croydon. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/457313/ALEXANDER,%20CHRI...
References and Sources
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Christopher James Alexander's Timeline
| 1887 |
March 24, 1887
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Croydon, Greater London, England (United Kingdom)
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| 1917 |
October 5, 1917
Age 30
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Ypres, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium
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| ???? |
Hooge Crater, Ypres, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium
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