Beschreibung:

The Historic Great War Victoria Cross group awarded to Major-General E. W. Alexander, V.C., C.B., C.M.G., Royal Artillery, who, with the help of Captain Grenfell of the 9th Lancers, saved the guns of the 119th Battery at Elouges on 24th August 1914 Victoria Cross, the reverse of the suspension bar inscribed ‘Lt. Col. E. W. Alexander, 119th Battery R.F.A.’, the reverse centre of the cross dated ‘24 Aug. 1914’; The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; 1914 Star, with clasp (Major, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Maj. Gen.); Coronation 1902, silver; Italy, Military Order of Savoy, Cavalier’s breast badge, gold and enamels; France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with bronze palm; Portugal, Military Order of Avis, Grand Officer’s breast star, silver-gilt and enamels, the last with enamel chip to centre, otherwise good very fine and better (10) £50000-70000 Footnote Victoria Cross London Gazette 18 February 1915: ‘For conspicuous bravery and great ability at Elouges on August 24, 1914, when the flank guard was attacked by a German corps, in handling his battery against overwhelming odds with such conspicuous success that all his guns were saved, notwithstanding that they had to be withdrawn by hand by himself and three other men. This enabled the retirement of the 5th Division to be carried out without serious loss. Subsequently Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander (then Major) rescued a wounded man under a heavy fire with the greatest gallantry and devotion to duty.’ Ernest Wright Alexander was born in Liverpool on October 2, 1870, the son of Mr Robert Alexander a shipowner and director of the Suez Canal. From Cherbourg House, Malvern, he went to Harrow in 1884, and from there directly to the Royal Military Academy, receiving his first commission in July 1889. He served in India from 1892 to 1900 and again from 1903 to 1906, when he was promoted to Major. Lord Ernest Hamilton, in The First Seven Divisions, gives the following account of Major Alexander’s act of bravery during the retreat from Mons: ‘The dismounted men were gradually withdrawn. During the course of one of these withdrawals, Captain Francis Grenfell, 9th Lancers, noticed Major Alexander, of the 119th Battery, in difficulties with regard to the withdrawal of his guns. All his horses had been killed, and almost every man in the detachment was either killed or wounded. Captain Grenfell offered assistance, which was gladly accepted, and presently he returned with eleven officers of his regiment, and some forty men. The ground was very heavy, and the guns had to be run back by hand under a ceaseless fire, but they were all saved, Major Alexander, Captain Grenfell, and the rest of the officers working as hard as the men. Captain Grenfell was already wounded when he arrived, and was again hit while manhandling one of the guns, but he declined to retire till they were all saved. For this fine performance Major Alexander and Captain Grenfell were each awarded the Victoria Cross, Sergeants Turner and Davids getting the D.C.M.’ Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander was appointed to command 22nd Brigade, R.F.A., on October 5, 1914. Later he commanded the 27th Brigade, R.F.A., and from August 25, 1915, the 15th Division, R.A., with the temporary rank of Brigadier-General, and held the command until March 1917. From May 1917 to April 1918, he commanded the Royal Artillery of XI Corps, and was then appointed Major-General, R.A., at headquarters of the First Army. Afterwards he commanded R.A., Southern Area, Aldershot Command. He was mentioned in despatches nine times during the war; created a C.M.G. in June 1915; received the Military Order of Savoy (Cavalier) in September 1918; was created a C.B. in January 1919; received the French Croix de Guerre in August 1919; and was created Grand Officer of the Military Order of Avis on 21 August 1919. Major-General E