Major Frederick Henry Thomas Alexander
- Born: 30 Nov 1860, Boulogne-sur-Mer,
Pas-de-Calais, France 2
- Marriage (1): Florence Blanche Bancroft on 7
Jun 1899 in Farnborough Church, Surrey 1
- Died: 26 Sep 1921, Faygate Place, Faygate,
Sussex aged 60 3
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Frederick was the fifth son of Henry
Alexander and his wife Lady Louisa Juliana (daughter of Thomas Knox,
2nd Earl of Ranfurly). He was born at Boulogne but his early upbringing
would have been in Ireland where his parents resided at Forkhill, Co
Armagh. Later, he was educated at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, and
at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1878 but
left, probably in 1879, without taking a degree to become an officer
cadet at the Royal Military College Sandhurst.4
As far as has been discovered, Frederick's Army career then followed
this path: From Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Leicestershire
Regiment as a Lieutenant in October 1881, and in 1890 promoted to
Captain. During his Army service, he is reported to have served in
Burma, with the South China Field Force, on the Nile and in South
Africa. However, he would have seen some of that service with the Army
Pay Department as he was seconded to it as a Paymaster in September
1895 (he was later confirmed as a permanent member in June 1900). In
August 1902, he retired from the Army with the rank of Captain. Twelve
years later, shortly after the outbreak of WW I, Frederick, who had
remained on the Army reserve of officers, was promoted to a Major and,
though no evidence has been found to confirm this, served once again
with the Army Pay Department.5
During his civilian life, he and Blanche lived in a comfortable style
first in London, then, from c. 1908-1918, in Essex near Saffron Walden
and then in Sussex at Faygate where he died aged 60, in September 1921.
The country properties that he and Blanche choose were sizeable
establishments. The Vineyard at Windmill Hill, near Saffron Walden,
which cost £4000 in 1908,6 was a 21-roomed Victorian mansion with a
lodge and gardener's cottage and 12 acres of grounds (they had 6
domestic servants, a chauffeur and a gardener at the time of the 1911
census).7 Faygate Place in Sussex, consisted of a
16-roomed residence, also with a lodge and two other cottages, set in
22 acres.8 It is not known what Faygate Place cost in
1919 but when Blanche's executors put it up for auction in 1932 it was
withdrawn when bidding stalled at £3500.9
Despite Blanche's inheritance from her mother, it seems it was
Frederick who bought The Vineyard and Faygate Place; he left an estate
valued at c. £7777 when he died, which, no doubt, included the latter
property. 10
Frederick married Florence Blanche Bancroft,
daughter of Lt. General William Charles Bancroft and Eliza Henrietta
Miller, on 7 Jun 1899 in Farnborough Church, Surrey.1 (Florence Blanche Bancroft was born on 10
Sep 1863 in Melbourne, Victoria 11 and died on 25 Nov 1931 in Faygate Place,
Faygate, Sussex 12.)
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Sources
1 Parish
Registers of England and Wales, St
Peter, Farnborough Marriages 1899.
1899. Marriage solemnised at the Parish Church in the Parish of
Farnborough in
the County of Southampton. No. 141 - June 7th 1899
Frederick Henry Thomas Alexander - Full [age] - Bachelor - Capt in
Leicestershire Regt - Farnborough - Henry Alexander (deceased) - Esqre
Florence Blanche Bancroft - Full [age] - Spinster - - Knellwood
Farnborough -
William Charles Bancroft - Lt General
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of
the
established church of England, by or after banns by me
Fred. A Hammond
This Marriage was solemnised between us, Frederick Henry Thomas
Alexander,
Florence Blanche Bancroft in the Presence of us, William Charles
Bancroft,
Edith Maude Bancroft.
2
"British Army Officer Records" (Records
in the PRO, Kew, England pertaining to officers who served the British
Army),
1882-1962 Transcriptions.
Name: Fredk Henry Thomas Alexander Gender: Male Marital status:
Single
Rank: Captain Birth Date: 30 Nov 1860 Birth Place: Boulogne Sur Mer
Enlistment Date: 1881 Regiment: Leicestershire Regiment (17th Foot).
3 The
Times (London), October 3, 1921, Page 1
Col A - DEATHS.
ALEXANDER. On the 26th Sept., 1921, very suddenly, at his residence,
Faygate
Place, Sussex, Major F. H. T. Alexander, fifth son of the late Henry
Alexander,
Esq., of Forkhill, Co Armagh, and the late Lady Louisa Alexander.
4 J. A.
Venn, Litt.D., F.S.A, Alumni
Cantabrigienses Part II 1751 to 1886 (Cambridge - At the
University
Press - 1944 and 1947), ALEXANDER, Frederick Henry Thomas.
Admitted Adm. pens. at CORPUS CHRISTI, Oct. 1, 1878. [5th s. of Henry,
of
Forkhill, Co. Armagh, Ireland.] B. Nov. 30, 1860, at Boulogne, France.
School,
Marlborough. Matric. Michs. 1878. In the Army Pay Dept., 1881; Capt.,
1900;
retired, 1902. Served in Burma, 1888-9; with the South China Field
Force; Nile,
1898. In the South African War. Died Sept. 26, 1921, at Faygate Place,
Sussex.
(G. B. Routledge; Foster, Peerage, Caledon.).
5 London
Gazette, Various.
21 October 1881, Page 5192
The Leicestershire Regiment,
Gentleman Cadet Frederick
Henry Thomas
Alexander, from the Royal Military College, to be Lieutenant, in
succession to
Second Lieutenant J. S. Ryall,
31 October 1890, Page 5747
The Leicestershire Regiment, Lieutenant Frederick H. T.
Alexander to be
Captain, in succession to Major A. W. McKinstry, Adjutant of Auxiliary
Forces. Dated
23rd September, 1890.
11 November 1890, Page 5930
The Leicestershire Regiment, Second Lieutenant the
Honourable H. B.
Hawke to be Lieutenant, vice F. H. T. Alexander, promoted. Dated 23rd
September, 1890.
3 March 1896, Page 1270
Charles G. Blackader, vice F. H. T. Alexander, seconded. Dated 6th
December,
1895.
17 July 1896, Page 4094
Captain F. H. T. Alexander, the Leicestershire Regiment, to be
Paymaster. Dated
6th September, 1895.
8 June 1900, Page 3634
Army Pay Department, The undermentioned Officers are
permanently
appointed to the Army Pay Department; retaining their substantive
rank:
Captain F. H. T. Alexander, from the Leicestershire Regiment. Dated
6th
September, 1895.
1 August 1902, Page 4970
Captain F. H. T. Alexander, Paymaster, retires on retired pay. Dated
2nd
August, 1902
13 October 1914 Page 8135
GENERAL RESERVE of OFFICERS. ARMY PAY CORPS. Captain Frederick H. T.
Alexander,
Pay-master, to be Major. Dated 9th September, 1914.
.
6 The
Times (London), Saturday, May 30, 1908,
Page 20 THE ESTATE MARKET.
The Vineyards, Saffron Walden, 12 acres, proved no exception to the
rule that
small properties in Essex meet with purchasers readily enough recently,
Mr.
Cheffins selling it for £4000. The house was built about 40 years ago
under the
personal supervision of the late Mr. W. M. Tuke, and stands about 300
ft above
sea level.
7 National
Census, 1911 - Parish: Saffron
Walden; ED: 07; Piece: 10480; Household Sch'd No: 257 - Head - Captain
H M Army
Retired On Pension.
8 The
Times (London), Tuesday, September 9,
1919, Page 5 THE ESTATE MARKET.
Country houses have also changed hands through Messrs. Harrods
(Limited), who
sales include
Faygate Place with 22 acres, near Horsham;
.
9 West
Sussex County Times, Friday 6 May
1932, Page 6 Col G PROPERTY MARKET. ...
"Faygate Place" was offered for sale by public auction at Horsham
Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon by Captain Alec Chasemore, of Messrs.
King and
Chasemore of Horsham. The sale of this attractive residential property
was by
order of the executrix of the late Mrs. Alexander. There was a good
company
present, but the property was withdrawn when the bidding reached
£3,500. The
property may treated for privately.
10 Probate
Court (England and Wales), "Calendar of Grants of Probate and
Administration", Wills and Admons 1921.
ALEXANDER Frederick Henry Thomas of Faygate-place Faygate Sussex died
26
September 1921 Probate London 23 December to Florence Blanche
Alexander.
Effects £7777 2s. 7d.
11 The
Argus (Published in Melbourne, Victoria
between (1848-1957)), Saturday 12 September 1863, Page 4, Col D
BIRTHS.
BANCROFT. - On the 10th inst., at Orrong, near Toorak, the wife of
Captain
Bancroft, A.D.C., of a daughter.
12 The
Times (London), Friday, November 27,
1931, Page 1 Col A - DEATHS.
ALEXANDER.- On Nov. 25, 1931, at Faygate Place, Faygate, Florence
Blanche
Alexander, widow of Major Frederick Henry Thomas Alexander, late
Leicestershire
Regiment. Funeral Colgate, tomorrow (Saturday), at 12 noon.
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