L/Cpl 57466 Alexander Innes

• Age: 24
• From: Fraserburgh, Aberdeen
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 3rd October 1917
• Commemorated at: Torreken Farm
  Panel Ref: C.10

Alexander Innes was born in the March quarter of 1893 at Fraserburgh, Aberdeen, the son of Alexander and Mary Ogston Innes who married on 09th December 1882 at Fraserburgh.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 52 School Street, Fraserburgh. His father, Alexander is aged 51, born 1850 in Pitsligo, Aberdeen, his occupation is listed as ageneral labourer, whilst his mother, Mary  is aged 40, born 1860 in Fraserburgh. They have five children in the household; Alexandrina aged 19, born 1882 is a general domestic servant, James aged 17, born 1884 is an apprentice cooper, Alexander aged 8, born 1893 is a scholar, Annie aged 3, born 1898 and Mary born 1901. They also have a granddaughter Jessie Innes aged 5, born 1896 in the household. The children were all born in Fraserburgh.

He enlisted in Fraserburgh and originally served as 1984 in the 5th Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. He arrived in France on 1st May 1915.

Following a transfer he was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance Corporal No 57466 when he died of wounds on the 03rd October, 1917, aged 24, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

He now rests at Torreken Farm Cemetery No1, Whytschaete, Belgium.

Wytschaete was taken by the Germans early in November 1914, and was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was retaken for the last time on 28 September.  The cemetery, begun by the 5th Dorset Regiment in June 1917 and used as a front line cemetery until April 1918, contains 90 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 14 German war graves.

His death was reported in the Fraserburgh Herald on 16th October 1917:

“Information was received in Fraserburgh yesterday that Private Alexander Innes, Gordons, had been killed in action. Private Innes went to the front with the “Fifties” shortly after the outbreak of war and was latterly attached to the Machine Gun Corps of an English regiment. Prior to serving he was a cooper with Messrs. J. Cardno & Son, fishcurers. He was the son of the late Mr. Alexander Innes who for many years was employed as a diver with the Harbour Commissioners, and of Mrs. Innes, Mid Street, Fraserburgh.” 

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