Pte 52905 Alexander Harrison

• Age: 20
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 8th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Mendinghem B C Proven
  Panel Ref: IV.A.44

Alexander Harrison was born at 13 Brasenose Road, Bootle, on the 19th July 1897 and was baptised on the 08th August at St.John’s C.of E. Church, Bootle. He was the son of George Harrison and his wife Josephine Alexandra (nee Preston) who were married at the same church on 19th April 1897.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 11 Hotspur Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. Alexander is three years of age and lives with his parents. His father, George, is a 24 year old wood turner born in Leek, Staffordshire whilst his mother, Josephine  is  also 24 years of age and was born in Ireland. They live as boarders with John and Rebecca White and their two young sons. 

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved to 11 Keats Street, Bootle. Alexander is a 13 year old scholar living with his parents and three siblings. His father George is now a 34 year old wood turner, bottle stopper whilst Josephine is also 34 her place of birth now shown as Belfast. His siblings are shown as George aged 7, Susannah aged 4  and Charles aged 1. His parents had been married for 13 years with 4 children born all of whom have survived. 

Two further sons, Robert S. and John, were born in 1912 and 1914 respectively. Sadly, Robert S. died before his first birthday.

Alexander enlisted in Bootle and was serving in the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 52905 when he died of wounds at the 64th Casulalty Clearing Station on 08th August 1917, aged 20, during the Third Battle of Ypres. 

A report on his death appeared in the Liverpool Evening Express on the 30th August 1917:

Pte. Alexander Harrison, K.L.R., age 20, killed in action on Aug. 8, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, 11, Keats-street, Bootle. He had been at the front over 13 months. Previously he was employed by the Union Cold Store Co., Bootle.

He was also reported as D.O.W. in the Liverpool Daily Post on 11th September 1917. 

He now rests at Mendinghem British Cemetery, Belgium.

Mendinghem, like Dozinghem and Bandaghem, were the popular names given by the troops to groups of casualty clearing stations posted to this area during the First World War. In July 1916, the 46th (1st/1st Wessex) Casualty Clearing Station was opened at Proven and this site was chosen for its cemetery. The first burials took place in August 1916. In July 1917, four further clearing stations arrived at Proven in readiness for the forthcoming Allied offensive on this front and three of them, the 46th, 12th and 64th, stayed until 1918. From May to July 1918, while the German offensive was at its height, field ambulances were posted at Proven. The cemetery was closed (except for one later burial) in September 1918. There are now 2,391 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in this cemetery and 52 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Alexander is also commemorated on the following Memorials

Bootle Civic Memorial

Salisbury Road Council School

Gray Street Council School

Alexander’s father George served with the 17th Cheshire Regiment. His service records survive and show that George attested on the 20th November 1915 and was a Prisoner of War from the 30th November 1917 until he was repatriated on the 16th December 1918.

He left the service on the 26th March 1919 with a pension for his family including his children.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Josephine.

We currently have no further information on Alexander Harrison. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Further tragedy befell the family when Alexander's mother, Josephine Alexandra Harrison of 24 Tennyson Street, Bootle and his brother, Ronald Harrison, a 17 year old firewatcher, were both killed at their home during the May Blitz of 1941. His father, George Harrison, died in August 1941 of injuries sustained in the attack.