IRVINE, Alexander George (1884-1937)
Alexander Irvine was born at Christchurch, New Zealand, on 29 March 1884, the son of Donald and Marion Irvine. He was enrolled as a boarder at Geelong College in 1899 by Mrs Irvine and his entry address was recorded as 'Blair Athol' Parliament Place, Melbourne. He may have left College in 1900.
He is recorded in the Annual Reports as winning the following awards:
1899 2nd, History, Lower 4th Class.
1899 1st, Geography, Lower 4th Class.
1899 1st, Latin, 1st Class.
1899 2nd, French, 2nd Class.
1899 1st, Writing, Lower 4th Class.
1899 1st, Drawing & Painting,
1900 1st, Latin, 4th Class.
1900 1st, Writing, Upper 4th Class.
He married Mary Augusta Chauncy, daughter of William and Sarah Chauncy, at St Leonards, Sydney, in 1912.
He was farming at Ardlethan, New South Wales, when he enlisted (No 50891) with the 20 Battalion (1st General Service Reinforcements - New South Wales) on 20 August 1917, aged 33. He embarked on RMS Osterley on 8 May 1918 for England, and then France, arriving there on 23 January 1919.
With the German Army’s last desperate offensive early in 1918 defeated, the 20th participated in the battles that pushed it ever closer to defeat - Amiens on 8 August, the legendary attack on Mont St Quentin on 31 August, and the forcing of the Beaurevoir Line around Montbrehain on 3 October. Montbrehain was the battalion’s last battle of the war. It was disbanded on 20 April 1919.
Irvine was detached from 20 Battalion from 7 March till 5 April 1919 for a Course of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry at No 14 Veterinary Hospital, France, and returned to Australia on HMT Ulysses, embarking on 22 July 1919.
After the war he became a farmer and grazier.
Irvine died at Ardlethan, New South Wales on 2 September 1937.
Sources: 'Geelong Collegians at the Great War' compiled by J. Affleck. p 223 (citing Pegasus; National Archives; Australian War Memorial).