ALEXANDER ROLAND HEATH
Although he wasn't born in Portsmouth, Alexander Roland spent much of his childhood in the Borough. He had been born at Wimbledon in 1895 the son of Albert Edward and Annie Elizabeth Heath.
Both Albert and Annie had been born at Chichester, in 1863 and 1866 respectively. Albert and Annie (nee Phillips) had also married there in 1891 but over the next few years spent time in Holloway, Wimbledon and Portsmouth. In each place one son had been born, Albert (b. 1892), Alexander (b. 1895) and Allan (b. 1898)
The 1901 census found the family at 2 Broad Street, off Somers Road and described Albert as a worker in a gingerbeer and pickle factory. Alexander left the household shortly after leaving school and took up a role as a boy clerk in the Civil Service for which he lived as a boarder in Clapham Junction. Meanwhile the family had moved to 6 King Street, Landport where two more children were listed in the 1911 census, Doris (b. 1904) and Cecil (b. 1905).
After the outbreak of the Great War Alexander volunteered for the Civil Service Rifles with whom he served in France. He lost his life on 7th October 1916.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) list Private Alexander Rowland Heath (4225), London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles), died 07/10/1916, aged 21. Commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 13 C.). Son of Albert Edward Heath, of 6, King St., Landport, Portsmouth, and the late Annie Elizabeth Heath.
Alexander Heath is commemorated on the Buckland United Reformed Church WW1 Memorial and on the Cenotaph. He is not listed in "The National Roll of the Great War", Section X.
Tim Backhouse
November 2014