Memorable Manitobans: William Alexander (1880-1917)

Soldier.

Born at London, England on 18 September 1880, he came to Winnipeg after service with the British army and worked for the Auto Tire and Vulcanizing Company. During the First World War, he joined the 103rd Regiment in 1914 and served under fire for several years before he was found wandering behind the lines after an assault. He was court-martialled for desertion and shot by a firing squad on 18 October 1917. He was the most senior and longest serving of 25 Canadians executed during the war.

See also:

William Alexander by Desmond Morton, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online

Sources:

Attestation papers, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 21 October 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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