This article is adapted from my report into the military service of Alexander Duff Cameron, written for a private client in 2022.
Background
With the Territorials
Alexander completed enlistment in Glasgow on 7 May 1912, joining the 2nd Lowland Field Ambulance (City of Glasgow) of the Royal Army Medical Corps. It was a unit of the Territorial Force, located at the drill hall at Yorkhill Parade. He agreed to serve for the standard engagement of four years. It was recorded that Alexander was aged 18, a clerk employed by the Vacuum Oil Company and that he lived at 95 Plantation Street. He was unmarried and had no previous military experience. On being accepted, Alexander was made the Ambulance’s Private 1571. He reached the rank of Corporal in April 1914.
On 25 May 1914, the local City of Glasgow Territorial Force Association belatedly sanctioned Alexander’s discharge from his engagement, for he was due to leave the country and proceed overseas. It was recorded that he was to depart for Valparaiso (in Chile) on 14 May 1914.
With the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force
On 13 September 1914 Alexander underwent a medical examination at Valcartier Camp in Quebec, and completed enlistment there a few days later. Confirmed as Private 21565, Alexander was allocated to the 11th Battalion CEF. The battalion recruited in Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Alexander’s battalion departed from Canada by sailing from Quebec on 4 October 1914 on the transport ship “Royal Edward”, as part of the “First Canadian Contingent.” The battalion landed in England on 14 October 1914 with a strength of 45 officers and 1134 other ranks. Along with 6th, 9th, and 12th Battalions, it was formed into a Canadian Training Depot at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain on 17 January 1915.
On 1 February 1915 Alexander was transferred to the 5th Battalion (Western Cavalry) CEF. (despite its title, it was an infantry unit). The battalion landed at Saint-Nazaire in France on 15 February 1915, with Alexander being part of the original contingent.
It appears that he developed a problem with drink, being given a period of Field Punishment Number 1 for drunkenness in March 1915 and being admitted to a Field Ambulance for alcoholism on 14-16 April. Less than two weeks after this treatment, the battalion fought in one of the most famous Canadian actions of the Great War, the Second Battle of Ypres, and it appears that Alexander was present.
On 2 September 1915, he was the subject of serious charges that were heard by a Field General Court Martial, Alexander was sentenced to six months of imprisonment with hard labour. The charges had been “Leaving his platoon when on duty in the trenches and remaining absent until arrested by Military Mounted Police” and “Being out of bounds when arrested by Military Mounted Police.” The sentence passed by the court martial was endorsed by then Brigadier-General Arthur Currie, who went on to command all Canadian forces in France and Flanders. A few days later, the sentence was commuted to three months of Field Punishment Number 1.
At 11am 28 July 1916 while in the care of 17th Casualty Clearing Station, Alexander died as a result of wounds to the back of his head and to his right foot, caused by a shell explosion. He had been fatally wounded on 26 July 1916 and was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station via 2nd Canadian Field Ambulance.
Events of 26 July 1916
The battalion was holding front line trenches near Hill 60, southeast of Ypres, when it came under enemy shellfire on this day. The war diary reported that three men, one of whom was presumably Alexander Duff Cameron, were wounded. The location is illustrated below. No major, named battle was going on in this always dangerous and hostile area at the time, but the date falls within that defined for the Battle of the Somme which was in progress many miles to the south.
Alexander’s death and burial
Alexander was evacuated to 17th Casualty Clearing Station at Rémy Farm at Lijssenthoek, where he succumbed to his wounds on 28 July 1916.
Wounded men received initial treatment at aid posts in the forward area and were then moved rearward to dressing stations at Vlamertinge and Brandhoek, both west of Ypres. Alexander was admitted by 2nd Canadian Field Ambulance located at Vlamertinge.
From the Field Ambulances, casualties were loaded onto ambulance trains and motor ambulance convoys which took them the ten miles or so westward to the Casualty Clearing Stations clustered west and southwest of Poperinge. The cemetery that grew alongside the medical facilities of 17th Casualty Clearing Station can be seen on the present-day map above, marked as “Cim Brit”.
