CAPT A L CAMERON 6TH A.&.S.H.
Captain Alexander Leckie Cameron
6th Battalion, attached 8th Battalion,
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
killed in action 21st March 1918
aged 42
Pozieres Memorial
Ranfurly Church Memorial, Bridge of Weir
Ranfurly Castle Golf Club Memorial
High School of Glasgow Memorial
Cintra, Bridge of Weir
Son of Alexander Cameron and Margaret Fyfe
Husband of Gertrude Cowan and a father
His Life
Alexander Leckie Cameron was born on 29th April 1875 at 19 Laigh Cartside, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, the fifth of a family of six born to Alexander Cameron, schoolmaster, and Margaret Fyfe, both from Johnstone, who had married in Paisley on 18th June 1862.
In 1881 Alexander (45), Margaret (45), and six of their children including Alexander (5) were still living in 19 Laigh Cartside Street. Alexander was a teacher of English.
In 1891 the Cameron family was at 23 Laigh Cartside Street (perhaps the same house renumbered). Andrew (18) was apprenticed to a lawyer. Alexander junior (15) was still at school, probably by then the High School of Glasgow. Eldest son John was no longer in the family home.
In 1901 the family was in Cartside Cottage, Laigh Cartside Street. Alexander senior was still a school master. Alexander junior (25) was a mercantile clerk. He later became a partner in the firm of Thomas Wiseman & Co, foreign merchants, in Glasgow. Andrew was a self-employed solicitor.
When he was 33 years old, Alexander married Gertrude Cowan (26) from Glasgow, the daughter of George Cowan, agent and silk merchant and Janet Fulton, in Dunglass, Douglas Gardens, Uddingston, Lanarkshire on 16th April 1910 (Gertrude's home). Alexander had by then moved with the Cameron family to Woodbank, Johnstone.
By 1911, Alexander and his new wife Gertrude had taken up residence in a 3 roomed double villa Cintra, Bridge of Weir. Alexander was described as an East India merchant and an employer in his own right. They employed a general servant, Barbara Hill from Cumnock, Ayrshire. They later had one child.
Alexander had served in the Territorial Army before the War and he rejoined the Territorials in August 1914 soon after war was declared. He was commissioned with the rank of Captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, initially stationed in England, and embarked for France on 24 December 1917. On 1st January 1918 he joined the 8th Argylls, then forming part of 152nd Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division. On 7th February, the Battalion was reassigned to 183rd Brigade in the 61st Division. Alex was killed on 21st March 1918. His name is recorded on the Pozieres Memorial between Arras and Amiens, which relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields. The 61st (2nd South Midland) Division was holding the front line north of Saint Quentin near Fresnoy and suffered many casualties as it fought a chaotic but ultimately successful withdrawal back over the Somme. In the initial clash, the South Midland faced three enemy Divisions. Alexander was one of those killed in that heroic defence against much larger numbers and was one of two officers and 142 Other Ranks posted missing. The Pozieres Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom who have no known grave and who died on the Somme between 21st March and 7th August 1918.
His widow Gertrude's address in 1922 was Cintra, 21 Woodville Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, the house name being chosen, perhaps, to reflect warm memories of her life in Bridge of Weir.
Siblings
| 1881 Census | 1891 Census | 1901 Census | 1911 Census | Birthplace | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Age | Name | Age | Name | Age | Name | Age | |
| John | 16 | Johnstone, Renfrewshire | ||||||
| Jessie | 15 | Jessie | 25 | Johnstone, Renfrewshire | ||||
| Isabella | 10 | Isabella | 20 | Isabella F | 29 | Johnstone, Renfrewshire | ||
| Andrew | 8 | Andrew | 18 | Andrew A | 27 | Johnstone, Renfrewshire | ||
| Alexander | 5 | Alexander | 15 | Alexander L | 25 | Alex L* | 34 | Johnstone, Renfrewshire |
| James | 3 | James | 13 | Johnstone, Renfrewshire |
* = not in Alexander and Margaret Cameron's family home - see text for details
Sources
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Scottish National War Memorial
- Alexander Leckie Cameron birth certificate, 29 April 1875. Regd. Johnstone 15th May 1875.
- Alexander Leckie Cameron and Gertrude Cowan marriage 16th April 1910. Regd. 4th May 1910, Uddingston, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
- 1881 UK Census: Parish: Paisley Abbey; ED:4; Page:18; Line:17; Roll: cssct1881_161.
- 1891 UK Census: Parish: Paisley Abbey; ED:4; Page:4; Line:1; Roll: CSSCT1891_176.
- 1901 UK Census: Parish: Paisley; ED:4; Page:17; sch 86; 573/02 004/00 017.
- 1911 UK Census: Parish: Kilbarchan. Ward, Bridge of Weir: Page 8, lines 27-29. 559/0B 004/00 008.
- War Diaries: 1/8th Bn., Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; 152nd Brigade, 51st Division. June, 1917 - March, 1918. WO-95-2865-2
- FREMICOURT: 1 January 1918. New Years Day. a Holiday. Officers joined for duty. Capt. A. L. CAMERON posted to "A" Coy.; Lt. J.K. McCALLUM posted to "B" Coy; Lt. G.B. McGEE posted to "B" Coy.; Lt. A.G. DAVIS posted to "D" Coy.
- 2-6 January 1918: Company Training & Musketry.
- 7 January 1918: 11.30 a.m. The Battn. left MIDDLESEX CAMP at 11.30 a.m. and proceeded to the LINE in front of DOIGNIES in the LOUVERVAL WOOD - BOURSIES Sector.
- DOIGNIES: 8-14 January 1918. Battalion in the Line.
- 15 January 1918. 3 p.m. Battalion relieved in the Line by the 4th Seaforth Hrs. at 3 p.m. & marched to FREMICOURT.
- FREMICOURT (Middlesex Camp): 16 January 1918. Battalion rested. Capt. A.L. LOCKIE left for duty at BOULOGNE.
- 17 January 1918. Battalion moved to BUCHANAN CAMP at ACHIET-LE-PETT.
- ACHIET_LE_PETIT: 18 January 1918. Training.
- 19 January 1918. Training. - Lt. Col. J.R. McALPINE-DOWNIE joined & assumed command of the Battalion.
- War Diaries: 1/8th Bn., Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; 183rd Brigade, 61st Division. March, 1918 - May 1919. WO-95-1944-1
- FRESNOY: 19 March 1918. 7.30 p.m. In trenches. Relieved by 5th Gordon Highlanders and marched to huts at MARTEVILLE.
- MARTEVILLE: 20 March 1918. Working in Battle Zone. B Coy billeted in Battle Zone at KEEPERS HOUSE.
- 21 March 1918. 3.0 am-4.45 am. Heavy bombardment of the forward area & the Battle Zone commenced. Order to "man Battle Stations" received. Battalion occupied positions in Battle Zone East of MARTEVILLE. During the course of the forenoon the outpost lines near FRESNOY and PONTRUET were penetrated, and the Battalion was heavily attacked. Positions in the Battle Zone were held throughout the day. Col. J.R. McALPINE-DOWNIE wounded. Major R.G. MUIR, MC in command. Casualties: Officers: 1 Killed; 4 Wounded; 2 Missing: Other Ranks: 14 Killed; 102 Wounded; 142 Missing.
- Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette
o 6th April 1918: TERRITORIAL OFFICER FALLS: CAPTAIN A. L. CAMERON. Information has been received from the War Office that Captain A. L. Cameron, of the A. & S.H. (T.), was killed in the battle last week. He was a son of the late Mr. Alex. Cameron, schoolmaster, Woodbank, Johnstone, and leaves a widow and one child. He rejoined the Territorials in August, 1914, and for a time was stationed in England, and left for the front in December last. He was 41 years of age, and was educated at the High School, Glasgow. He was a partner of the firm of Messrs. Thomas Wiseman & Co., foreign merchants, Glasgow and resided till he joined up at Cintra, Bridge of Weir. Captain Cameron was well known in tennis and golfing circles. - Medals: Victory, British War.
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