LORD ASHCROFT'S "HERO OF THE MONTH" LORD ASHCROFT'S "HERO OF THE MONTH" Lt Col Ernest Wright Alexander VC - Skill Lt Col Ernest Wright Alexander VC - Skill LORD ASHCROFT'S "HERO OF THE MONTH" Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Wright

According to his citation in The wounded or missing). Alexander VC London Gazette, which was published Alexander received his VC from King Serving in the Royal Field Artillery, Major (later Major General) Ernest Alexander was 43 years old when he became involved in the bitter fighting at Élouges during the retreat from Mons. on 18 February 1915, Alexander showed George V at an investiture at Buckingham gallantry on at least two occasions during Palace on 12 July 1915. His courage and For his actions he was later awarded the . fierce fighting while commanding the leadership resulted in a series of rapid 119th Battery: “For conspicuous bravery promotions, culminating in command of RNEST WRIGHT Alexander was Alexander, who at the time was a major, and great ability at Elouges on 24th August, the Royal Artillery of XI Corps from May While living in Devon, Alexander BOTTOM Lt Col Ernest Wright born in Everton, Liverpool, on was awarded his Victoria Cross for 1914, when the flank guard was attacked 1917 until April 1918, and subsequent became a Justice of the Peace, a member MIDDLE: Alexander VC E2 October 1870. He was the son courage just two days later — which made by a German corps in handling his battery appointment as major general of the RA of Kingsbridge Guardians Committee, a Lieutenant of Robert Alexander, a wealthy ship it the joint sixth award action of the war, against overwhelming odds with such at the headquarters of the First Army. member of his Rural District Council and Colonel Ernest Wright Alexander owner originally from Belfast, who was five having been won the previous day. conspicuous success that all his guns were Later, he commanded the RA, Southern president of his local branch of the Royal VC, CB, CMG’s both a director of the Suez Canal and a His acts of bravery and great skill took saved, notwithstanding that they had to be Area, Aldershot Command. During the British Legion. medal group. merchant with Sun Shipping Co. Ernest place during the retreat from Mons, at withdrawn by hand by himself and three course of the war, he was Mentioned in Alexander died at South Milton on 25 (LORD ASHCROFT was educated at Cherbourg House in Élouges, Belgium. As substantial enemy other men. This enabled the retirement of Despatches a remarkable nine times, and August 1934, aged 63. He was cremated COLLECTION) Malvern, at Harrow School and the forces advanced, Alexander kept his guns the 5th Division to be carried out without was created a Companion of St Michael at Putney Vale Cemetery in south-west Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. firing until the last moment. At one point, serious loss. Subsequently Lieutenant- and St George in June 1915. Furthermore, London, where his ashes were interred TOP RIGHT: An artist’s He received his first commission as a it looked as though the Germans would Colonel Alexander (then Major) rescued a he received the Military Order of Savoy in a family grave. Memorials to him depiction of one in the Royal Artillery overrun the area and seize four guns wounded man under a heavy fire with the (Cavalier) in September 1918, became include the naming of “Alexander of the 119th (RA) in July 1889 and twice served from 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. greatest gallantry and devotion to duty.” a Companion of the Bath in January Way” at Putney Vale Crematorium, Battery’s guns long stints in India: from 1892 to 1900, Under a heavy fire, Alexander gave the Captain Grenfell, of the 9th Lancers and 1919, received the Croix de Guerre from his portrait at South Milton Parish Hall being hauled to and from 1903 to 1906, when he was order for the guns to be moved back by who was seriously wounded in battle, also Belgium in August 1919, and was created and recognition on a Royal Artillery safety during the fighting at promoted to major. He married in 1903 hand to the shelter of an embankment. received the VC for his part in rescuing the Grand Officer of the Portuguese Military memorial at Woolwich. Élouges. (HMP) and he and his wife, Rose, went on However, the rain-soaked ground was guns, while two sergeants were awarded Order of Avis on 21 August 1919. I have always hugely admired the to have two sons and two daughters so heavy that only one gun could be the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). Alexander retired in the rank of major courage, skill and leadership that TOP MIDDLE: (although one son died in infancy). manoeuvred at a time and, short of men, The courage of the British forces on that general on 1 October 1920, the day Alexander displayed so early in the Great Captain Francis After Britain declared war on Germany this proved a dangerous and difficult day (24 August 1914) had come at a heavy before his 50th birthday. He moved to War and so I was delighted when I was Grenfell’s unit on 4 August 1914, it took some time task. Eventually, they were aided by the price. The 119th Battery lost 42 men and South Milton, near Kingsbridge, Devon, able to purchase his medal group at a arrive at Mons to make vital military preparations, arrival of reinforcements: Captain Francis 43 horses, although this paled alongside where he played an active role in the Dix Noonan Webb auction in London on 21 August 1914, three days so the first contact British troops had Grenfell and the remnants of the 9th the much heavier losses of the Cheshire local community. He employed three in 1999. His medals are now on public before they went A portrait of with their German opponents was Lancers and 4th Dragoon Guards arrived and Norfolk Regiments, which between servicemen who had fought with him display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at into action at Ernest Alexander. not until the 22nd of that month. on horseback to assist. them had some 800 casualties (dead, at Élouges in 1914 on his country estate. Imperial War Museums, London.  Élouges. (HMP) (COURTESY OF THE LORD ASHCROFT COLLECTION) VICTORIA CROSS HEROES LORD ASHCROFT KCMG PC is a SKILL Conservative peer, businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. The THE MANY Victoria Crosses and George Crosses in the Lord story of Ernest Alexander’s life appears Ashcroft Gallery at the in London are in his book Victoria Cross Heroes. For displayed under one of seven different qualities of bravery. more information, please visit: www. Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Wright Alexander’s award is part victoriacrossheroes.com of the collection, and Lord Ashcroft feels that it falls within Lord Ashcroft’s VC and GC collection the category of Skill: is on public display at Imperial War “Wisdom, sound judgement and technical knowledge are Museums, London. For more information the hallmarks of Skill. It is about using resources to greatest visit: www.iwm.org.uk/heroes. For effect usually under intense pressure. For many involved details about his VC collection, visit: in bomb disposal, while a single movement might start the www.lordashcroftmedals.com clock ticking, the puzzle still has to be solved, the game For more information on Lord Ashcroft’s work, visit: www. won. Perseverance is everything.” lordashcroft.com. Follow him on Twitter: @LordAshcroft AGGRESSION•BOLDNESS•INITIATIVE•LEADERSHIP•SACRIFICE• SKILL•ENDURANCE

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