9242 PTE Alexander Sutherland - Scots Guards Alexander Sutherland my Granddad’s older Brother was born in the parish of Burley near Leeds Yorkshire in July 1891, he enlisted in the Scots Guards in Dumbarton Scotland on 18th August 1914, he was 23 years of age. Throughout 1914 he was posted to 3rd (Reserve Bn) Scots Guards in London. He then joined the 1st Battalion Scots Guards who were with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France in June 1915 whilst cleaning his rifle he injured his right hand and was taken to a hospital in Rouen and then back to England to rejoin the 3rd Res Scots Guards. In January 1916 he left for France and back to the BEF at Base camp until joining the 2nd Bn Scots Guards “in the Field”. In a letter to his sister Helen dated 12th Aug 1917 he writes: I suppose you read about the big push well I have managed to come out of it again, you will be saying I am sticking it well. I am lucky in a scence (sic) but unlucky in another. I am afraid we are in for another winter of it. On 10th October 1917 he was wounded in action and later died of his wounds. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Like so many he has no grave but his name is engraved in stone at Tyne Cot Memorial Leper Belgium on panel number 10. My Dad Keith Sutherland visited Alex’s sister Helen in the 1980’s she was 90 years of age and still tightly holding on to the letter Alex had sent her from the front. Alex and my granddad Robert who served in the Navy also had another brother George who served I WW1 with the Leeds Rifles in France and Belgium and was badly wounded in Action. In November 1917 the Scots Guards moved on to support the Tank Regiment in Cambria (My Regiment) , 1st Battalion joined 2nd Guards Brigade, and the 2nd Battalion 3rd Guards Brigade. Between them they gained for the Regiment 33 battle honours, of which the following are borne on the Colours: “Retreat from Mons”, “Marne 1914”, “Aisne”, “Ypres 1914”, “Ypres 1917”, “Festubert 1915”, “Loos”, “Somme 1916”, “Somme 1918”, “Cambrai 1917”, “Cambrai 1918”, “Hindenburg Line”, “France and Flanders 1914-18”. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded to the Regiment during this war. 111 officers and 2,730 other ranks lost their lives. The 3rd Battalion was re-formed for the duration of this war and served in London.

Neil Alexander Sutherland