Pte 57463 Alexander Smith

• Age: Unknown.
• From: Glasgow
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 2nd August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Alexander was born in 1893 in Glasgow, the son of James Smith and his wife Hope (nee Davie).  His parents married in 1891. 

On the 1901 Census Alexander is aged 8 and is a scholar living at 130 Garngadhill, Townhead, Glasgow.  His father James is a 30 year old stationary engine keeper born in Glasgow,  whilst his mother Hope is aged 34 and was also born in GLasgow. His siblings  all born in Dalmellington, Ayrshire are recorded as; Andrew D. 6 a scholar, Agnes A. 4 a scholar and James aged 4 months.

He married Lilias Mowat Hood in Glasgow on 31^st December 1915.  Their daughter Jane Petrie Smith was born on 04th October 1916.  According to his daughter’s birth certificate, Alexander worked as a cabinetmaker; he is listed as a Private, 3^rd (Reserve) Lowland Division Cyclist Company.

He enlisted in Glasgow and was formerly 1192, Lowland Divisional Cyclist Company. Following a transfer he was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57463 when he was killed in action on the 02nd August, 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The 20th Battalion diary gives details of the circumstances that the Battalion found themselves in during the early phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). Having taken part in the initial fighting of 31st July 1917 there is a general write up in relation to the period 01st -08th August and specifics solely from the 03rd August. As such it is impossible to say exactly how each of the men who fell on 01st or 2nd August met their death.

20^th Battalion Diary 01^st August – 08^th August

The Battalion continued to hold the position taken up on the morning of 31^st July. After the first day the weather was very wet and the going very difficult, but the men’s spirits remained wonderfully good. From time to time there was very heavy enemy shelling and in addition to this machine guns and snipers were very active. The work of communication was extremely difficult and the wires to Companies and to Battalions on our flanks were repeatedly cut and were only kept going by most excellent work by our linesmen, who suffered very heavy casualties as also did the runners. 

Alexander's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He was reported as killed in The Scotsman on 14th September 1917

King's Liverpool Regt - Smith 57463 A.(Glasgow)

Alexander is commemorated on the Glasgow Roll of Honour (as Lowland Cyclist Co.)

His widow Lilias, living at 17 Taylor Street, Townhead, Glasgow, received a pension of £1-3s-10d a week for herself and child.

Soldiers Effects to widow Lilias M. and daughter Jane, Pension to Lilias M. and child Jane Petrie, 17 Taylor St, Townhead, Glasgow.

His mother died in 1924 aged 56 

His daughter married and had a child, but died, aged 38, in 1955 in Glasgow Royal Infirmary following an operation.

We currently have no further information on Alexander Smith, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.