Originally from Kirkenbrightshire, Scotland with pre-war service in the Galloway Rifles, 3rd Lanarkshire Regiment and The Liverpool Scottish as a Sergeant drill Instructor, 192459 Private Alexander Carswell was a 38 year old Toronto Hydro accountant when attested into the 15th Battalion in September 1914. He rose to the rank of Sergeant in the 92nd Battalion before being transferred to the 134th battalion in The UK where he was an Acting CSM. In January 1917 he reverted to the rank of Private so he could be posted to the Front and was sent to No. 1 Company of the 15th Battalion in France.

On March 5, 1917 the Canadian Corps was well into its final preparations for the assault on Vimy Ridge and the 15th Battalion began moving its four sub-units into their final positions. Battalion HQ moved into the Douai Subway (tunnel) and No. 1 and No. 3 Companies moved into the forward ‘jumping-off trenches. No. 3 Company was the battalion reserve and remained at Bois des Alleux while No. 2 Company was in Close Support positioned in the Maison Blanche tunnels.

On March 7th the forward companies conducted several patrols into No-Man’s Land and even into the forward German trenches to maintain the appearance of normal trench routine and to gain intelligence on the German line and state of preparedness before the assault. Private Carswell was killed in action on that day “while near the door of his dugout, he was hit by a fragment of a high explosive shell during an enemy bombardment of our position.” Records suggest that his remains were either not recoverable or if recovered and buried were subsequently lost and he is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial to the Missing in France.

NOK: Ellen Carswell (W) 198 Rochampton, Eng