Alexander Bertram Yorkston

Memorial: South Gloucestershire war dead not on a local memorial

Regiment: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Major

Parents: Alexander and Jane Yorkston

Marital status: Married

Home address: Alexander and Helena: 117 Islingword Road Brighton

Pre-war occupation: Buyer of material and organiser of transport for the public works department

Date of birth: 1897

Date of death: 22/05/1944

Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Frenchay St John the Baptist Churchyard

Age: 47

Further information:

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders seconded to 10th Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment.

Alexander was born in Falkirk Scotland, the son of a stationmaster. He enlisted for general service in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1915 when he was 18 years old and fought as a squaddie during WW1. In 1921 he was working as a tea planter in India and returned to England in 1931. He married Helena in Huddersfield in the 1st quarter of 1939 and re-enlisted on the outbreak of war. In 1941 he was a Lieutenant and by 1942 he had risen to the rank of captain in the Middle East. In 1943 he was seconded to the Punjabi regiment, very likely because of his knowledge of India. At the time of his death he had been acting as a Major.
Alexander was seriously wounded in India on 10th January 1944 in the opening battle for Imphal in 1944. During this battle his Punjabi regiment was charged with defending the Imphal-Tiddim Road which formed the gateway to India. It bore the brunt of a desperate attempt by Japanese forces to break through allied defences and the number of casualties was high. Alexander was listed as dangerously ill in March in the Middle East and was transferred back to the UK. He eventually died 2 months later in the 100th United States General Hospital in Frenchay.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
“Tribute to fallen Falkirk hero who fought to save India”, The Falkirk Herald, Saturday 18 May 2019