Christopher James Alexander
Christopher James Alexander (24 March 1887 – 5 October 1917
Early life
Alexander was born on 24 March 1887 in
From an early age, Alexander 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.[3]
Ornithology
Alexander 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
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
One night in 1917, while on sentry duty, Alexander broke his leg. The injury was assumed to be 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
Character
Alexander was a kind, shy, unassuming man, for whom "social intercourse with any but very simple, unassuming, frank people, or to those who shared his interests, was a torment to him."[5] It was typical of him that it was only after he died that his family learnt that in one of the battles in which he took part he had captured a German prisoner and shared his last biscuit and water with him.[5]
References
- ^ "Casualty Details | CWGC".
- ^ Woodland, Jenny (2011). Bootham School Register. York, England: BOSA.
- ^ Ibis, April 1918, Volume 60, Issue 3
- ^ http://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V11/V11_N09/V11_N09_P204_209_OB041.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ a b c H.G Alexander. British Birds XI., No. 9, 1 February 1918.