STEEL, Alexander Neil
(Service number 2/2268 )
| First Rank | Gunner | Last Rank | Gunner |
|---|
Birth
| Date | 1 May 1894 | Place of Birth | Lanarkshire, Scotland |
|---|
Enlistment Information
| Date | 24 August 1915 | Age | 21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address at Enlistment | Main Avenue, St Kilda, Dunedin, New Zealand | ||
| Occupation | Traveller | ||
| Previous Military Experience | Artillery Volunteer Corps (9 months) | ||
| Marital Status | Single | ||
| Next of Kin | Miss Elizabeth Steel (sister), 13 Barr Street, off London Road, Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland | ||
Military Service
| Served with | NZ Armed Forces | Served in | Army |
|---|
Embarkation Information
| Body on Embarkation | New Zealand Field Artillery | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit, Squadron, or Ship | 7th Reinforcements | ||
| Date | 9 October 1915 | ||
| Transport | HMNZT 32 Aparima or HMNZT 33Navua or HMNZT 34 Warrimoo | ||
| Embarked From | Wellington | Destination | Suez, Egypt |
| Other Units Served With | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Unit Served With | |||
Military Awards
| Campaigns | Egyptian 1915-1916, Egyptian Expeditionary Force 1916, Western European 1916-1917 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Medals | 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal | ||
Award Circumstances and Date
No information
Prisoner of War Information
| Date of Capture | |
|---|---|
| Where Captured and by Whom | |
| Actions Prior to Capture | |
| PoW Serial Number | |
| PoW Camps | |
| Days Interned | |
| Liberation Date |
Death
| Date | 27 December 1964 | Age | 70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Death | |||
| Cause | |||
| Memorial or Cemetery | Timaru Cemetery | ||
| New Zealand Memorials | |||
Biographical Notes
Alexander was the son of James and Mary Steel, and was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Alexander volunteered for service and joined the 13th Battery of the 3rd Brigade of the New Zealand Field Artillery in August 1915, disembarking at Suez on 18 November. In April 1916, along with his unit, he embarked for France from Alexandria. Soon after arrival, on 15 April he was admitted to the 9th Stationary Hospital at Marsailles for 6 weeks. Discharged at the end of May he rejoined his uinit at Etaples. Two months (August) later he was detached to England where he was attached to the strength of the NZ Reserve Group at Sling at the end of the month. On 18 October 1916 Alexander forfeited 4 days pay when he slightly overstaed his leave from Sling Camp.
On 7 January 1917 Alexander returned to France, marching into camp at Etaples two days later. The next month her rejoined his unit until he was granted leave in the UK on 12 September. After two weeks leave he rejoined his unit in the field. Barely over a month later, on 28 October 1917 Alexander was evacuated from the field due to wounds suffered from gas shelling. The nect day he passed throiugh the 2/1 Home Counties Field Ambulance, before being trnaferred to No.46 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) for treatment. After anither day, on 30 October he was admitted to No.56 General Hospital, Etaples for further asessment and treatment. On 2 November he embarked for England and there was admitted to Southwark Military Hospital, Dulwich Grove, suffereing the effects of gas. He remained there until 29 November when he must have been improving, or was at least stabalised, when he was transferred to the New Zealand Hospital at Hornchurch. Almost two months later, on 22 January 1918, he was again transferred - this time to the NZ Convalescent Hospital at Codford, where treatment presumably continued. On 11 April 1918 though Alexander contracted the "German measles" and was admitted to the 3rd NZ General Hospital (also in Codford) until returning convalescent depot on 26 April.
In March Alexander lodged a will with the army. This may have been required, or could have been brought about by his gassing making him aware of his own mortality. It notes that he was formerly of "Washdyke, near Timaru" and specified his sister, "Mistress Maggie Scott" of Washdyke, as his sole beneficiary under the tgerms of a will previously made and deposited with her.
Finally on 1 June 1918 a medical board classified Alexander as unfit due to gas poisoning and he was placed on the roll for return to New Zealand. On 8 August 1918 Alexander left from Plymouth on the Paparoa for home. He was finally discharged in New Zealand in March 1919, no longer fit for war service on account of injuries sustained during his service. His intended address was given as "C/o Scott[his sister], Washdyke Rd, Timaru". He had served for 3 years and 215 days, three years of which was spent overseas. Foir his service he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British Medal and Victory medals. The medals were sent to Alexander care of Mrs Lillias of Butler Street, Timaru.
After the war Alexander married Ruby Georgina Burgess in 1922, in Timaru. At the time of his death in 1964 he was living at 1 Newman Street, Waimataitai, Timaru. He was buried in the services section of Timaru Cemetery.
Sources
SCRoll submisison by T Brosnahan, 24 April 2022; NZ Military Personnel File, Archives New Zealand R7820885
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Researched and Written by
Tony Rippin, South Canterbury Museum
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