Private Alexander Baxter

Private Alexander Johnston Baxter, 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France 18th September 1918 ,aged 40, during the ” Advance to Victory “. He had been born in Sprouston, Roxburghshire and was the son of the late Jessie Baxter and the husband of Jessie Baxter of 16 Duke Street, Coldstream. He  is buried in Gouzeacourt New British Cemetery, France where his Headstone is inscribed ” God Proved Them And Found Them Worthy For Himself “. Before enlisting in June 1916 he had been employed as a plumber in Coldstream. He was a keen sportsman and a member of the Coldstream Silver Band.  He had originally joined the 7th/8th K.O.S.B. in France but had been transferred to the 2nd Battalion who were in Italy, moving back to France in April 1918 to help stem the German Spring Offensives.  He fell in the attack on “African Trench ” in the Gouzeacourt sector where the Battalion was tasked with holding a defensive flank for a major attack elsewhere. The photographs show the Allies during the final advance after the retreating German Army in the last 100 days of the War.