Granton War Memorial

John Linton Alexander was born in the Parish of North Leith circa 1899 and at the time of the 1901 Census was living with his parents, David and Mary Alexander, at 3 Wardie Square. His father was a railway porter.

His service records are amongst the minority that survive following a fire at the Army Records Office in September 1940 – the result of enemy action. His attestation papers show that he was aged 22 years and 240 days when he enlisted. His address was 14 Lower Granton Road – the address of his sister Margaret Alexander who was named as his next–of-kin. His civilian occupation was that of Ship’s Chandler. His height was 5 feet 6¼ inches.

The date on the attestation papers is not very clear but it looks as if he enlisted either late in January or early in February 1916. This would imply that he could have been either one of the last volunteers or one of the earliest conscripts. In January 1916 the Edinburgh newspapers were urging men to volunteer while this was still possible so that they could get their choice of regiment. He joined the 15th Battalion Royal Scots and saw service in France from 12th November 1916 to 21st July 1917. He was back in France the next year and was killed in action on 9th April 1918. The Edinburgh Evening News reported his death on 18th May 1918 and mentioned that he had formerly been employed by Mr James McGlashan, Ships’ Chandler, Granton.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.