Photo information

Commissioned by Mrs Dr. Alexander, October 1892.

There were two Dr Alexanders in Wick, but only one had children. This would suggest that the photo above is of Elizabeth Alexander (née Crowe), wife of Dr Alexander Alexander, with her children William Alister b July 1890 and Elizabeth Joyce b April 1892.

See JN02888_B_P023, JN02889P023 and JN02887P023 which are also commissioned by this lady.

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Jayden Alexander submitted the following information:-

"Dr. Alexander Alexander was my fourth great uncle. He had two brothers, Dr. John Alexander and Donald Alexander, Donald was my fourth great grandfather. Dr. Alexander Alexander married Elizabeth Crowe and had three*** children, Jack Alexander, William Alister Alexander (doctor in Edinburgh), and Elizabeth Joyce Alexander, all deceased. Dr. Alexander Alexander is buried in Wick Old Municipal Cemetery along with his wife. William is thought to be buried in Edinburgh, Jack died in World War I and is buried in France. We don't know where Elizabeth Joyce is buried, it's thought that she had family and moved away from Caithness."

[ *** Please note 'comments' below regarding a fourth child]

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Elizabeth Joyce Alexander was married to Walter Quarry Wood in 1919 at Morningside, Edinburgh. She died in 1964 aged 72 at St Andrew parish in Edinburgh. Her husband Walter was also a physician and was president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh from 1949 to 1951; he wrote books on surgical matters and was a notable art collector. A daughter, also called Elizabeth Joyce, and also a qualified physician gaining a MBChB in 1952, died in Edinburgh on 29th December 2015.

In 2016 Lyon & Turnbull of Edinburgh auctioned a collection of Scottish Colourists paintings on behalf of Walter Quarry Wood's descendants. Dubbed 'The Wood Collection' it included works by Cadell, Peploe and Hunter; the top price was achieved by 'a Still Life of Roses' by Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell and all thirteen lots sold for a total of £1.23m.

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A BMJ obituary to Dr W A Alexander MB, ChB, FRCPEd can (hopefully) be found at the following link address (not an active link, please copy and paste):-

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1689999/

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Jack, the younger son, was born after this photo was taken (born 1894) and the following information on his life and passing appeared in the Highland Light Infantry Chronicle for 1915:-

"Information was received on August 21st [1915] of Lieutenant Jack A.E. Alexander, younger son of the late Dr Alexander, Wick, and of Mrs Alexander, 1 Howe Street, Edinburgh. Lieutenant Alexander, who was only 21 years of age, was born at Wick, and educated at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh. He was a member of the O.T.C. of the College. After leaving school he went to Edinburgh University, and was specialising in forestry. On the outbreak of the war he received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the [12th] Highland Light Infantry, and was promoted Lieutenant in March 1915. It was at the Front, in France, where he met his death at the hands of a treacherous German, who shot him in the back after he (the German) had surrendered."

His gravestone records that he died on 15th August 1915, near Bethune in France.

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Neil Wares posted:

Re. Brian Alexander’s comments of 23 11 2017:- I found William’s death in a Statutory Notice to Creditors in The Queenslander, Sat. 3.9.1904:11, very difficult to read. William Wares, Grazier, late of Caithness, near Hughendon, State of Queensland, deceased, died intestate, died 18.2.1904 This led to his death registration- 1904/C/1791 (but has mother as Margaret Craig) Looking for more in the Queenslander gave up a later marriage for his widow, she is named as such in the notice. Sarah Cargill married William in Queensland on the 14.5.1898 (1898/C/1193) and then married Alexander MacMillan (son of the Rev.John MacMillan of Ballachulish) at The Manse, Cairns Memorial Church, E.Melbourne by the Rev. John Grey M.A., B.D., on 25.2.1907 I cannot find any children born to William and Sara in Queensland and have no knowledge of previous marriages for either, tho’ there was a marriage 10.8.1874 1874/C/804 in Queensland for a William Alexander and Mary Jane Harding. William’s reg in Scotland has 12.4.1841 at Watten,042/30/75, making him 62 at death. The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld 1866-1939) can be found in Trove at trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/ The above being found at/20348344 and /25976738

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