L/Cpl 22475 Alexander MacLean

• Age: 32
• From: Edderton, Ross-shire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

CWGC gives his age as 32, which does not agree with his stated age on enlistment.  The family has been identified by the names of his siblings given in his service record, but his census age would make him at least 31 when he enlisted, and 33 when he died.

Alexander Maclean was born in 1882 at Edderton, Ross-shire, the son of Hector MacLean, who was born in Edderton, Ross, on Dornoch Firth, northeast Scotland, and employed as a game keeper, and his wife, Barbara Fraser Maclean who  was born in Inverness. They married in in 1878 in Fearn, Ross and had at least seven children (birthdates are approximate):  Alexander had older brothers Hugh, born in 1880 in Kincardine, and Andrew 1881 in Edderton, and younger siblings Annie born in Creich, 1885, and Barbara 1887,  Mary 1888, and Kenneth 1892, all born in Daviot, Inverness-shire.

At the time of the 1891 census, the family is living at Aberarder, Daviot, Inverness with six children.  (Daviot is a village about 5 miles southeast of Inverness.)  His father is a game keeper aged 65, and was born in 1836. “Alick” is 8, place of birth Creich, Ross-shire. His siblings are Hugh 11 b. Kincardine, Andrew 10 b.Edderton, Annie 6 b. Creich, Barbara 4 b.Daviot and Mary 3 b.Daviot. 

In 1901 the family is still at Aberarder, Daviot.  Alexander, 18, place of birth is listed as Edderton, Ross-shire, is a game keeper, like his father, 56.  His mother is 54 and born in Beanley.  Hugh, 21, is a medical student, Barbara, 14, Mary, 13, and Kenneth, 9, are at school.

On the 1911 Scotland census the family are still at the same address, Hector is 67, Barbara is 64, Andrew 30, Annie 26, Mary 23 and James 22. Alexander has not been found on the England census or on crew lists.

There is a newspaper report that at the outbreak of the war Alexander was employed by the Pacific Steam Navigation Company on the SS Flamenco (This vessel was captured by a German warship and scuttled on 06/02/1916). On his Service Record, Alexander stated he had previosuly served with the Cameron Highlanders.  

At the time of enlistment Alexander was living at 37 Bedford Road, Bootle and had lived there for 6 years. 

On 05th  November 1914,  Alexander enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22475. He gave his age as 28 years and 350 days and his occupation as an engineer. He was described as being 5’ 9 and a half inches tall, weighing 151 lbs, 38" chest, with a fresh complexion, and brown hair and eyes. He stated his religion as Presbyterian.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He crossed to France on the 07^th November 1915.

On 20^th January 1916 was appointed Lance Corporal (Paid) although Army Form B.103 states 04th February 1916.

He was killed in action on 01^st July 1916, during the attack at Montauban on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme.

20^th Battalion Diary

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am.  After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file , 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.    

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Evening Express dated 17th August 1916:  

Lance Corporal Maclean who was formerly in the employ of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company on the Flamenco and whose home address for six years was 37 Bedford Road, Bootle, was killed in action with the "Pals" on July 1st.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Alexander earned his three medals.

His personal effects were returned to his family in December 1916:  1 Pouch, 1 Pipe, 1 Jackknife, 1 Lanyard, 1 Gospel, 1 Writing pad, 1 Card.

His father received the War Gratuity of £7. His Army effects were shared between his father, his brothers Hugh and Kenneth, sisters Annie Macrae, Barbara and Mary, and sister-in-law Margaret.

No pension card has been found, indicating that Alexander had no dependents.

In 1919 his father provided information on Alexander’s living relatives:   his parents were still in Aberarder, Daviot, with daughter Mary, 30;  Andrew, 38, was at Woodside, Aberarder;  Hugh, 40, was living in Battersea, London;  Kenneth, 28, was working for the Royal Bank of Canada in British Columbia; Annie, 34, was at the Farr School, Daviot; and Barbara, 32, was at the Royal Infirmary, Inverness.

Alexander is commemorated on the following memorials -

Parish of Daviot & Dunlichity, East Daviot, Highland

Scottish National War Memorial

Pacific Steam Navigation Company Roll of Honour.