Current Information:

Age-42

31, Bekesbourne Buildings, London Street, Stepney

Born-Aberdeen

Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France

On 18th December, 1914, the 1st Gordon Highlanders battalion of 8 Brigade, 3rd Division moved into trenches at Kemmel with battalion HQ at Vroilandhoek Farm They remained here until relieved on 21st December when they moved back to billets at Westoutre. Alexander Williamson died from wounds on 20th December and it is likely that he was one of the two men that the battalion diary recorded as being wounded on the previous day. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.