Category: Conscientious Objector
Rank: Private 3171
Regiment or Ship: 9th Eastern Company Non Combatant Corps
Service Number(s): 3171
Occupation: Florist
Date of Birth: 14.02.1881
Place of Birth: Greencastle, Co. Donegal, Ireland
Date of Death: 15.03.1961
Place of Death: Teddington, Middlesex
Place of Burial / Memorials:
Having survived the war, there are no memorials, as such, and his place of burial is unknown though, quite possibly, in or near Teddington Lock, Middlesex.
Address: 57 Station Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Wife – Elsie Ide, aged 32, marriage took place on 24th March 1913, in Kingston, Surrey. Elsie died, aged 50, on 17th December 1935, in Bexhill-On-Sea, Sussex.
Son – David John Alexander – born 24 Jun 1920, at Bexhill, Sussex, died, aged 82, on 16th March 2003, in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
Daughter – Margaret Alexander – born 1923 inBexhill-on-Sea; died 23rd January 1936 in Bexhill-on-Sea
Daughter-in-law – Margaret Grimsdell Dix -(wife of son David John Alexander. Margaret was born 24th December 1928, and died 21st February 1996
Grandchildren
- Ruth Margaret Alexander born March quarter 1953, Middlesex, South
- David A. Alexander, born June quarter 1955, Middlex, South
- Elizabeth R. Alexander, born September quarter 1958, Middlesex, South
- Philip James Alexander, born March quarter 1966, Richmond, Thames
- Peter Stephen Alexander, born March quarter 1968, Richmond, Thames
First World War Experience
Few records for Paul Alexander have survived WW2 and those that have give very little information
His Army records, such as have survived, do not give any indication as to where he served and do not mention any wounds.
No medal roll can be found and there is no record of him being injured or wounded.
Because of where he served, in the Non Combatant Corps, he was never a prisoner of war.
C0001 ALEXANDER Paul (Private) (2) Army Service Records
Additional Information
Paul Alexander was a florist, fruiterer and greengrocer, with a shop at 57, Station Road, Bexhill. At his tribunal hearing, on 19th July 1916, he tried to get exemption because he had invested all his money in his business but the tribunal insisted that this be sold and gave him two months exemption. At a second hearing, on September 27th, he said that he had sold the business but asked that he be given non-combatant duties on conscientious grounds, and this was granted. Transcriptions of both Tribunal hearings have been made.
On his joining the army, his “Statement of Services” gives his details as follows:
Age – 35 years 8 months, height 5ft 6½ inches, chest (fully expanded) 37½ inches.
Paul Alexander survived the war but his business in Bexhill had been taken over by a Mr. J. T. Hyde and he seems to disappear from Bexhill as there is record of him until he appears in the 1953 Post Office Directory for Kingston, Middlesex, aged 72, where he remains living until 1958. His name appears, once again, in the 1960 P.O.D. but this time he’s living in Teddington Lock, aged 79, which is where he appears to have died and been buried.
Tribunal Reports
C0001 ALEXANDER Paul (Private) (1) Tribunal Reports