Silver Teaspoons

These silver teaspoons, one for each town visited, were collected in France between 1915 - 1917 by Captain P. J. Alexander M.C, Perth, 7th then 8th battalion, The Black Watch.

Captain Peter James Alexander M.C was born in 1895, the only son of Mr. John Alexander, headmaster at Perth’s Sharp’s Institute and member of Perth’s School board. Capt. Alexander was educated at the reputable Fettes College, and Balliol College Oxford where he earned a First Class in Classical Studies.  

In April 1915, he joined The Black Watch and crossed for France in June of the same year. He was wounded in November of 1915, not returning to the front until the following year. In the aftermath of the Battle of Arras he received a Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, leading his company with great dash and ability, obtaining his objective and capturing four officers and many other prisoners’ (09/04/1917).  He was promoted to the rank of Captain, and whilst leading the 8th battalion in an attack on a German pill box at the Passchendaele Ridge on October 12th, he was killed from enemy fire.