Robert James Alexander

Letters By Author

Biography

Robert James Alexander (1899 - n.d.)

Date of letters

April 1918 - 25 July 1919

Number of letters

8

Regiments

Royal Field Artillery (April 1918 - April 1919)
Royal Tank Corps (July 1919)

Rank

Gunner

Regimental number
261247

Robert Alexander was born in Belfast on 6 May 1899 to parents Margaret Anna Price and Scottish born Robert Alexander, an iron caulker. The family lived in Edinburgh Street, off the Lisburn Road. Alexander joined the Lending Department of Belfast Central Library as a temporary member of staff on 2 November 1914.

Alexander joined the Royal Field Artillery in mid-April 1918 as Gunner in E Battery serving in France with the British Expeditionary Force. He was the only temporary assistant to enlist. One of his roles was to “entrain the animals for the Rhine or for Blighty” in April 1919.

He wrote to the Chief Librarian on 17 April 1918 to enquire about his reinstatement as a member of staff “at the close of hostilities”. In a letter dated 5 April 1919 the Chief Librarian explained that as Alexander was a temporary member of staff he could not apply for his release until “all the old permanent hands had been reinstated”.

After the war he returned to work for Belfast Public Libraries.


Belfast Central Library. © National Museums Northern Ireland Collection Ulster Museum.


Author Letters

For Author Robert Alexander we have found 8 correspondence(s).

Reference Date of Letter Type Summary View Letter 
ALE-001 01 April 1918 Letter Alexander to Goldsbrough. Durrington,Wiltshire. Sea sickness, German prisoners. View
ALE-002 17 April 1918 Letter Alexander to The Chairman of Library and Technical Committee. Belfast. Request for reinstatement after the war. View
ALE-003 09 May 1918 Letter Alexander to Goldsbrough. Bordon, Hampshire. Application to the Committee. View
ALE-004 13 May 1918 Letter Goldsbrough to Alexander. Application to the committee, allowance. View
ALE-005 01 January 1919 Letter Alexander to Goldsbrough. Argoeuves, France. Demobilization, Christmas. View
ALE-006 15 March 1919 Letter Alexander to Goldsbrough. Candas, France. Demobilizing the horses, strike in Belfast. View
ALE-007 05 April 1919 Letter Goldsbrough, Chief Librarian to Alexander. Demobilisation.  View
ALE-008 25 July 1919 Letter Alexander to Goldsbrough, Chief Librarian. Germany. Moving from France to Germany. View