George Alexander

On 11 September, the 22nd M.G.C. arrived at Ypres to join the fighting in the Battle of Passchendaele. They were in position at the top of the Westhoek Ridge on 20 September, supporting the Australian 1st and 2nd Divisions as they led the attack in the Battle of Menin Road. Again the 22nd M.G.C. was called into action on 3 October when at Zonnebeke in readiness for the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge. The War Diary states that in the move to the front line, one other rank was wounded.

George’s service record says he suffered shrapnel wounds to his right shoulder and ear on 3 October. After being admitted to hospital in Boulogne, George was transferred to England for further treatment. He spent more than two months months recovering in hospital near Oxford before being discharged on 18 December. George was granted furlough until 2 January 1918 when he had to report to Sutton Veny on Salisbury Plain. During this time he apparently traveled to Scotland.

Upon returning to the A.I.F. training camp on the Salisbury Plains, George joined the Australian Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill. He trained with the British Army Machine Gun Corps at Grantham, Lincolnshire. In early 1918, when the Australian Machine Gun Corps was restructured, the 22nd M.G.C. joined the newly formed 2nd Machine Gun Battalion.

On 28 March, George rejoined the 22nd M.G.C. as it moved into position in the front line and support areas near Baiziuex on the Somme. One week earlier, the German forces had launched the massive Spring offensive known as Operation Michael and had broken through the Allied lines. The 22nd M.G.C. initially helped defend the city of Amiens before advancing to fight at Querrieu, Franvilliers, and Mericourt on the Somme.

On the night of 5 June, the 22nd M.G.C. was in position across the Bray to Corbie Road when the enemy launched a heavy artillery bombardment on the front line and support areas. A raiding party of 280 German troops approached and entered the 22nd M.G.C. trenches and came under fire from one of the Australian machine guns. This gun was withdrawn a short distance as the German troops attacked along the trench with bombs. The War Diary of the 22nd M.G.C. recorded:

the raid was repulsed with heavy losses to the enemy in killed and prisoners (AWM, 1918).

Fourteen guns of the 22nd M.G.C. fired a total of 38,000 rounds while defending against the German raid. The company remained in the front line until relieved on 14 June, moving to a rear position near Allonville.

A section from the 22nd M.G.C. joined the successful Australian-led attack on Le Hamel on 4 July. The War Diary noted that six tanks attached to the 6th Brigade A.I.F. played a daring part in the attack. The tanks were positioned to the rear of the infantry until they moved forward when the infantry were held up “and on each occasion with wonderful ease dispersed the enemy”. Also,

the part the Aeroplanes took throughout was greatly admired and appreciated. Several of the ‘Sopwith Camels’ flying a very low altitude, probably not more than 20 feet from the ground, …dropping boxes of ammunition by means of parachutes to both infantry and machine gun positions (AWM, 1918).

The Battle of Amiens was launched on 8 August, to the east of Villers-Bretonneux, when 100,000 Allied troops attacked along a front of 20km. The 22nd M.G.C. was allotted to the 7th Brigade A.I.F. for the attack. The Allies broke through the German lines and by the end of the day had captured 13,000 German prisoners and 200 field guns. The 22nd M.G.C. moved forward with the Allied attack to Harbonniers before being relieved on 18 August. The 22nd M.G.C. re-entered the fighting on 28 August when it attacked enemy positions at the Somme Canal running south from Peronne. The War Diary of the 22nd M.G.C. stated in the fighting between 28 and 31 August, 2nd Lieutenant Foley and eight other ranks were wounded and one other rank was killed (AWM, 1918).

Private George Alexander was killed in action on 30 August 1918. The Officer Commanding, 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion, wrote:

He was killed in action by shell fire while exploiting a forward area between Herbecourt and Somme Canal. He was buried by members of this Unit and a cross was erected over the grave.

Originally, George left his shares in the Wylie Creek Tin Dredging Syndicate and his two agricultural selections at Mallow to his friend and business partner, James Scott, who was serving with the 12th Machine Gun Company. However, in April 1918, George amended his will, now leaving his estate to Mary Jane Benzie, of 47 Tullibody Road, Alloa, Scotland. George may well have met Mary Jane while on leave in Scotland in December 1917. George’s personal effects containing a wallet, photos, cards, rosary, and a religious book were sent to Mary Jane in November 1918. The Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll for George were sent to his mother.

For the Roll of Honour, his mother wrote:

He was a brilliant, successful and good living man. Seriously wounded and came to England and as soon as he was well enough he persisted in returning to the fighting line.

Unfortunately the location of Private George Alexander’s grave near Peronne was lost. Therefore, his name is recorded with honour on the wall of the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.