Tuesday 7 July 2015

Carlisle, Alexander - Private (102198)

Private Alexander Carlisle
96th Field Ambulance,
Royal Arm Medical Corpos,
Killed in Action,
20th September 1917,
Age 29,
Buried Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery

Newspaper Report:

(1) HASLINGDEN PARENTS JOY TURNED TO SORROW IN A FEW HOURS

The pathos of war is again illustrated in the death in action of Private Alexander Carlisle, R.A.M.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Carlisle, of 435 Blackburn Road, Acre, Haslingden.
On the day before he was killed he wrote home that he was "in the pink."
Letters announcing his death, however, arrived on Friday, and were officially confirmed a few days later.
A non-commissioned officer has written stating that though the deceased had only been with the unit three months, he had proved himself a smart and willing soldier.
The colonel wrote that the deceased was struck by a shell while he was collecting the wounded together, and that he succumbed immediately.
It is believed that the deceased, who was 29 years of age, fell between September 20th and 22nd, 1917. Single, he was formerly a weaver at Commercial Mill, Haslingden, and he enlisted two years ago.  He had been at the front just over a year.
Before the war he attended the cotton and the shorthand classes at Haslingden Technical School, and as a boy he attended the Church of England Day School, while he was also connected with the Sunday School.  He was a member of the Parish Church Institute.
On June 6th 1917, he was slightly wounded, and was treated in a base hospital.

(2)  Private Alexander Carlisle (29), son of Mr. Alexander Carlisle, horseman for Messrs. W.H. Shaw, colliery agents, and Mrs Carlisle, of 435 Blackburn Road, Acre, Haslingden, was about September 21st killed by being struck by a fragment of a shell whilst engaged in the collection of wounded, death being immediate.  Deceased was until enlistment about two years ago, a weaver at Commercial Mill, Haslingden.  He was a very studious young man and attended the shorthand and cotton classes at Haslingden Technical School.  He was on the committee of the Haslingden Weavers Association, and played with Baxended Cricket Club. He was brought up at Haslingden Parish Church Day and Sunday Schools, was an esteemed member of the Church Institute, and was very regular in his attendance at the Church services. He had been in France a fortnight over 12 months.  On the day before he was killed he wrote home a most cheerful and cheering letter in which he said he was in the pink of condition, and this letter and letters announcing his death were received on the same day, on Friday of last week.  Official notice of the death in action was received on Sunday.  In June of this year he sustained slight wounds, but did not come home, being treated at Wimerjeux.  In the army, as at home, Private Carlisle made many friends.  His sergeant-major, in conveying the news of the death to the parents, and tendering to them heartfelt sympathy, said deceased "had not been in the unit long, joining us last July, but in that time he proved himself a smart and a willing soldier."  Deceased's colonel has also sent a letter of sympathy.

Newspaper Memorials:

In loving memory of a dear Son and Brother, Pte. Alexander Carlisle, of the R.A.M.C., who was killed in France, September 20th 1917, also a dear Wife and Mother, who died July 31st 1918.

"From the field of strife and conflict,
He was helping a wounded friend,
And doing his noble duty,
When he met his own sad end.

Though we understand God's mercy,
In taking them to rest,
The parting gives much anguish,
To those who loved them best."

From Father, Jim and Lizzie.

"From the field of strife and conflict,
He was helping a wounded friend,
And doing his duty nobly,
When he met his own sad end."
"A beautiful memory left behind."

From Maggie.

Private Alexander Carlisle Census information - Click over census to enlarge