Alexander Wilson (British Army officer)

British Army general

For other people named Alexander Wilson, see Alexander Wilson (disambiguation).

Major-General

Sir Alexander Wilson

Birth name| Alexander Andrew Wilson
Born| 29 October 1858
Framsden, Suffolk, England
Died| 7 July 1937(1937-07-07) (aged 78)
Allegiance|  United Kingdom
Service / branch|  British Army
Rank| Major General
Commands| 1 Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; Indian Expeditionary Force E
Battles / wars| Anglo-Zulu War
Second Boer War
World War I
Awards| Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Major-General Sir Alexander Andrew Wilson KCB (29 October 1858 – 7 July 1937) was a senior British Army officer, Colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Lieutenant Governor of Jersey between the years 1916 and 1920.[1]

## Military career

[edit]

Educated at Lancing College,[2] Wilson was gazetted into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1879 and served with the regiment through the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 before being appointed Commandant of Colonial Forces, Western Australia in 1895.[2]

Wilson returned from Australia to fight with his regiment during the Second Boer War and was appointed commander of the 1st Battalion after the Battle of Magersfontein in 1899.[2] He served under Sir John Maxwell in the Sinai and Palestine campaign (World War I) as General Officer Commanding Indian Expeditionary Force E, Canal Defences and was mentioned in dispatches whilst commanding the Suez Canal defences against the Turkish attack through 1915–1916. He was also appointed KCB at around this time.[3]

In later life he became Colonel of the Regiment (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) and was made Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.[4]

He married Jane Leith-Hay Graham, daughter of Robert Graham, 14th of Fintry. Their son Alexander Robert Graham Wilson DSO was commander of the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Obituary: Major-Gen. Sir A. Wilson". The Times. 8 July 1937. p. 18.
2. ^ a b c A Register of St Nicholas College Lancing
3. ^ Defence of the Suez Canal 1915
4. ^ "Jersey Heritage Trust". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

Government offices

Preceded by

Sir Alexander Rochfort

|  Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
1916-1920  | Succeeded by

Sir William Smith