Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alexander Grant was born in Ullapool, Scotland in 1898. Before enlisting, Alexander Grant served 5 years in the Royal Naval Reserve as a Seaman. Seaman was a military rank responsible for the smooth operation of the work above deck on a vessel. Here Grant learnt about organisation and team work which later assisted him during the war. Grant listed his religion as Methodist. Grant was single at the time of enlisting and had no children. His next of kin was his sister E. Grant.

Alexander Grant signed up in Oakland, South Australia on 18th January, 1915. His nephew, James Grant, signed up alongside him. This suggests that they heroically signed up together. With Alexander Grant’s previous training in the Royal Navy, his knowledge, and skills most likely influenced his decision to enlist. During this time, writings on the War’s progress didn’t report the dangerous or negative side. It was before the tragedy of Gallipoli. Propaganda also influenced and persuaded many soldiers to join.  Originally Grant was assigned to the 24th battalion as a Private. The 27th battalion was created on the 16th of March 1915. Grant, along with multiple other 24th battalion soldiers transferred to the 27th battalion. Grant was part of the 2nd machine gun company attached to the Battalion. Throughout 1917-1918 he switched between the 27th battalion and the 7th machine gun company.

Attached to the 27th battalion was the 2nd Machine Gun Company, which Alexander was part of. This meant he used specialised machine guns. Grant had special skills and most likely learnt this during his previous years of military experience. These weapons were vital in bringing down soldiers from a distance on the battlefield. Grant’s battalion left on the HMAT A2 ship on 31st May 1915, for Egypt for further training for 2 months. The trip was described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world”. Many of the troops experienced seasickness on the voyage.  Grant and his fellow soldiers were ‘soldier-tourists’ in Egypt. Training in the desert and taking photos of people at the Grand Pyramid and in front of the Sphinx.

The 27th battalion first fight was an urgent request for backup on 12th September 1915 to Gallipoli. The battalion assisted in the defensive position on Cheshire Ridge, moved to Mule Gulley, for further defensive operations. The battalion then moved to France, where they heroically fought on the front-line for the first time on 7th April 1916. They launched an attack on 4th August, centred on German positions around Bapaume. The area had been controlled by artillery fire, so the beginning was difficult, and the two parallel German trench lines were not easy to see. Grant had to fight with faith, as Charles Bean described Pozieres was “more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth”.

The 27th battalion fought numerous other battles - Battle of Lagnicourt 26th March 1917 and Battle of Beaurevoir 3rd October 1918. Grant suffered a major injury on 9th May 1916 during the Battle of Pozières and was treated on site. He was sent to a hospital after they recognised it was a gunshot wound on May 13th. Alexander bravely re-joined the 27th battalion on 1st July 1916, after time in hospital. Grant went to hospital several times during his service with influenza. He was first hospitalised with the flu in November 1915 and again during April 1916 and April 1917.

 The 2nd machine gun company unit dairies spoke about the conditions in the Pozieres battle. During the day, the trenches were wet and muddy, and soldiers worried about enemy artillery night and day. Grant was shown to have humour amongst his fellow peers. Soldiers sharing trenches with the 27th battalion called them “The digger[s]” since they dug the dig outs during Gallipoli. During his service, Grant committed three crimes. On 16th March 1916, he left the battlefield without permission and was given 14 days of field punishment number two (F.P 2). He failed to comply with a direct order given to him on 11th November 1916 and was given 7 days of F.P 2. On 30th June 1918, Grant was absent without leave for one day (27th– 28th) and was deducted 16 days’ pay, and 14 days of F.P 2. (Field punishment number 2 meant a prisoner was placed in fetters and handcuffs, but not attached to a fixed object.) 

Grant braved four years serving in the military during WWI, helping the 27th battalion stand a courageous fight. The battalion lost 762 men on active service during the war with 2,155 wounded. The battalion was disbanded on 4 June 1919. Grant returned home safely to Australia on 5th April 1919.