Alexander SILVER

Other Events and Attributes:

• _FGRAVE: 12027738
• Census: 1911, No 37, 18 Great Western Road, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

Notes:

From http://www.abdn.ac.uk/historic/mem_single.php?memid=64
Name Silver, Alexander Rank Private Regiment 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders Biography Son of Alexander Silver; born Harvieston Farm, Kinneff, 14 September 1894 ; educated Gordon's College ; entered Aberdeen University to study Agriculture in 1912. At the outbreak of war he went with "U" Company to Bedford where he became a great favourite not only with his fellow-students but throughout the Battalion. Cooking for a company was no "catch" in those days, but "Sandy" cheerfully accepted the job with all the drudgery it entailed. In this capacity he left with the Battalion for France in February 1915. It did not take long under active service conditions to show that there was the real fighting stuff in Silver. After repeated attempts he got relieved of the job which afforded him comparative safety. Alongside his old fellow-students in the trenches, he was supremely happy. Hardships seemed less real when Silver shared them. He took part with the company in the attack from Sanctuary Wood (Hooge) on 25 September 1915 and was subsequently posted as missing. Honours Date of Death 25 September 1915 Burial details Name recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panel 38, Column 9.

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UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
Name: Alexander Silver Rank: Pte Record Type: Card Death Date: 25 Sep 1915 Service Number: 1611 Corps, Regiment or Unit: Gordon Hrs: Title: WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers Description: Other Ranks Died Sigrist W-Simmonds A Reference Number: 1/D/10432, 1/D/10432, DAP2152
Next of Kin: Name Relation to Soldier Alexander Silver
Margaret Rae. Foster Mother

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Birth:
1894 births in the parish of Kinneff & Catterline, in the county of Kincardine, Scotland
No 26 Alexander Silver 1894 September 14 at 10am at Harvieston, Kinneff
Father: Alexander Silver farmer
Mother: Ellen Jane Silver M.S. Watt
Married 1894 March 16, Kinneff.

James B Calder, registrar

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Census:
No 37, 18 Great Western Road, Aberdeen:
Margaret RAE*, head, widow, aged 51, boarding house keeper, born Aberdeen
Alexander SILVER, boarder, aged 16, single, born Kinneff, Kincardineshire
John SILVER, boarder, aged 14, single, Kinneff, Kincardineshire
James SILVER, boarder, aged 13, born Kinneff, Kincardineshire
*Margaret was foster mother to the Silver brothers after they were left orphans.

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Died:
Information from Anne Park a volunteer with the Gordon Highlander Museum in Aberdeen:
Both Alexander & John Watt Silver were in "U" Coy officially "D" Coy of the 4th Bn (the lads from the Uni liked to be known as "U" Coy.
Alexander was a private 1611 KiA at Hooge 25-9-15 and is remembered on the Menin Gate panel 38 died age 21.
John Watt Silver 2nd Lt KiA Douchy 26-10-18 buried Auberchicourt British Cemetery Plot II Row F Grave 2.
Alexander Silver born Kinneff 14 Sep 1894 enlisted Aberdeen. Son of Alexander Silver. Educated Robert Gordon's College. Roll of Service in the Great War: page 22: Aberdeen University Book of Remembrance. City Roll of Honour: 11 Holburn Rd; Aberdeen.
The Student Soldiers (4th Gordons "U" Coy).
Son of Alexander & Helen Jane Watt Silver, Harvieston, Kinneff.
Alexander died along with Anne Park's great grandad's young brother William Thomson
who was 17 when killed in Sanctuary Wood. The 4th Gordons were used in a diversionary attack the same day as Loos. There are still trenches at Sanctuary Wood and a museum.

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