Revision as of 14:10, 29 January 2013

Christopher James Alexander

Christopher James Alexander (24th March 1887 - 4th or 5th October 1917) was a British Ornithologist. He was the son of Joseph Gundry Alexander and the brother of Ornithologists Wilfred Backhouse Alexander and Horace Alexander.

Early Life

Christopher was born on 24th March 1887 in Croydon and was educated at Bootham School, York and the South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye. He gained a BSc in Agriculture in 1908 from the college and remained there as staff for the next year. In 1909, after devoting some time to mycological work in England, Christopher left for Rome to take up a post as redacteur at the International Institute of Agriculture, where he stayed until 1916.

From an early age, Christopher showed a love of natural history which continued up until his death. Whilst he was at school he kept detailed notes of observations on birds, plants, and insects. He continued these daily notes after he left school and indeed for the rest of his life. He observed the song of birds, the first blossoming of flowers, appearance of certain insects, and appearance, increase, decrease, departure and passage of migrants - until the day of his death. <ref>Ibis, April 1918, Volume 60, Issue 3<ref>

Ornithology

Christopher made very detailed observations of bird-distribution and migration, first in Kent and other parts of England, and then in Rome. Even at war in Flanders, he still made detailed records; observing the birds throughout autumn and winter and in the Somme in July.

First World War

In 1916, Alexander came back to England from Rome so that he could serve in the army. He enlisted as a Private, and joined the Buffs on February 29th, 1916. During his training he was based mainly in Dover, but in June of that year, he was sent to France. There, fighting at the Somme, in Belgium, Christopher was able to aleviate his grim surroundings somewhat by looking and listening to birds. He was often rewarded by the sight of a Green Sandpiper in a flooded trench or a Great Grey Shrike on the battlefield <ref H.G Alexander. British Birds X1., No. 9, February 1, 1918.ref> One night in 1917, while on sentry duty, Christopher broke his leg. Everybody assumed it was just a sprain and was not properly treated for more than two weeks. He was then sent back to Britain, and spent his convalescence in Monmouthshire, Wales. After more training until his leg was fully healed, Christopher was sent back to France. It was near Passchendaele on October 4th, 1917 that he was seriously wounded in battle. It is almost certain that he was killed or died later that same day, after being put into an ambulance.

References

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 ====First World War====
 In 1916, Alexander came back to England from Rome so that he could serve in the army. He enlisted as a Private, and joined the Buffs on February 29th, 1916. During his training he was based mainly in Dover, but in June of that year, he was sent to France. There, fighting at the Somme, in Belgium, Christopher was able to aleviate his grim surroundings somewhat by looking and listening to birds. He was often rewarded by the sight of a Green Sandpiper in a flooded trench or a Great Grey Shrike on the battlefield <ref H.G Alexander. British Birds X1., No. 9, February 1, 1918.ref>
+One night in 1917, while on sentry duty, Christopher broke his leg. Everybody assumed it was just a sprain and was not properly treated for more than two weeks. He was then sent back to Britain, and spent his convalescence in [[Monmouthshire]], [[Wales]]. After more training until his leg was fully healed, Christopher was sent back to France. It was near Passchendaele on October 4th, 1917 that he was seriously wounded in battle. It is almost certain that he was killed or died later that same day, after being put into an ambulance.
 ==References==