Alexander Low

The 1/4th (City of Dundee) Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 04/03/1915. The 1/5th (Angus and Dundee) Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 02/11/1914. On the 15/03/1916 these 2 Battalions amalgamated to form the 4/5th Battalion and they were part of the 118th Brigade, 39th Division. Alexander was posted missing on the 25/09/1917. The Battalion were involved in the Battle of the Menin Road, 20th - 25th September 1917 at this time. This Battle was part of the The Battles of Ypres, 1917 (3rd Ypres), 31st July - 10th November 1917 : The British finally got what they had wanted since 1914: the opportunity to attack at Ypres and breakout of the confines of the salient of trenches around it. Often known as the 3rd Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele, the offensive began with encouraging gains but terrible summer weather soon bogged it down. By August the offensive was clearly failing in its objectives and had descended into attritional fighting. New techniques by both sides led to agonisingly slow forward movement for the British, at enormous cost in casualties to both sides. Bad weather in October led to the battlefield becoming an impossible quagmire. Alexander's death was not confirmed until May 1918. Alexander was only 10 weeks at war when he was killed, 3 of them were in hospital and was only out of hospital one week when he fell. He was a popular member of No 88 Lodge, New Monkland Montrose, Airdrie and was also a respected member of Hope of Coatdyke and the Sons of Temperance. Alexander is also remembered on the Maxwell Parish Church and Stewarts and Lloyds Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for Alexander's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings, an aerial view of Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial Panel List, the Black Watch Cap Badge and Alexander's Pension Records x 3.