Letters By Author
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.
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 |