Alexander Walkinshaw, D.C.M

Posts : 3182 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Fantastic Photo Steve , Great find.

Salute

Posts : 3182 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Sarah289

This would be my best guest, if he was indeed in this group?

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Posts : 26 Join date : 2018-02-11

This is fantastic! Thank you all.

Great photo Steve, i have a feeling who it could be due to other family members, although it is very hard to tell as the photo is quite faded. So it would be interesting if any of you pick out the same person. Euphemie would have been 32 in 1890.

This is Alexander and Euphemie's son Evelyn, in our opinion he looked nothing like his Father, therefore the assumption was made he looked more like his Mother.

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In terms of the image of Alexander in the bodyguards, its so hard to tell. I favour more the man on the far left standing up. One image in time compared to others can really make a difference.

Subject: Alexander Walkinshaw DCM Fri Feb 16, 2018 1:15 am

Hi Sarah
If Walkinshaw is in the Bodyguard photo , I'm of the same opinion as you , its the chap standing on the left ! ?
90th Shocked

Posts : 1186 Join date : 2015-11-24

No offence to the original posted, i'm trying to show a bit more
definition to see more clearly his facial features, his devotion to
Wood was undeniable not uncommon between servant and master
and in reality vise versa.. what a story they shared together!.

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Posts : 26 Join date : 2018-02-11

Thanks 90th...my Mum who is no relation to any of these people said in her opinion she thinks it’s the man on the far left standing up because he looks like a young version of my Dad! In general my Dad, Christopher Alexander (he was named after his great grandfather) looks like him as an older man too. So it would make sense.

No offence at all xhosa2000, that’s made it clear to us! That’s brilliant thank you. There’s a lovely written piece in Pillar of Empire, Sir Evelyn Wood VC that talks about Evelyn summoning Alexander on his death bed to see him once last time before he passed and thanking him for saving his life many times.

I also want to thank Steve again for working out that Euphemie probably was working for the Empress still in 1890 and the 1891 census now makes sense. Safe to say she was at least with her for 11 years or so.
Very grateful to all your help gentlemen! This has really helped.

I can’t say for sure...but of all the people in the image of Eugenies staff I compared this lady with Evelyn...what do you all think?

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Subject: Alexander Walkinshaw DCM Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:02 am

Sarah the facial features certainly seem similar ! . I don't have Pillar Of Empire , seem to have all of Wood's other books . Thanks for sharing that anecdote , would be quite moving to all involved I'd expect ? .
90th

Posts : 26 Join date : 2018-02-11

Glad you think so 90th! We thought that too.
It’s only an assumption though of course.

Your welcome! There was more to it but I don’t know whether to post it? In case others wanted to read it? It is quite moving as you said.

Subject: Alexander Walkinshaw DCM Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:14 am

Sarah I'm going to search for a copy ! . Yes that's fair enough , others may wish to read the book . As you said it's only an assumption , but the features are there .
90th Salute

Posts : 26 Join date : 2018-02-11

Go for it! It’s a really interesting read.

Yeah exactly. And we will probably never know either.

Posts : 1186 Join date : 2015-11-24

Ladies in the Veld..

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It was in the last sodding box i searched.. to brief refs re Alexander
nothing of interest re the inquiry.. but what a fox Lady D. was, a bit
inbred looking, but i would have had a crack at her. Wink

Posts : 1186 Join date : 2015-11-24

I don't think by posting this brief extract from Pillar of Empire that it would
spoil the enjoyment of future reader's. what a truly remarkable relationship
these two men enjoyed..

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Subject: Alexander Walkinshaw DCM Wed Feb 21, 2018 4:01 am

I'm sure it was an emotional meeting between the two of them . Sad

90th

Posts : 26 Join date : 2018-02-11

Thank you for posting that. I have the book on my kindle. I tear up everytime I read it. Well Evelyn is a family name because of what Wood meant to Alexander. Only for the women now. My Dad didn’t know the significance of it when I was born and has said many times that my middle name would have been Evelyn if he had known.
It was my great grandfathers name, then his girls were Gertrude Evelyn, Doris, and Evelyn....my grandmother was Doris. She then named her daughter Sally Evelyn and then it unfortunately skipped a generation and went to my Aunties granddaughter who is Evie.

It would be lovely to actually meet Woods surviving relatives. It was such a bond they had and I imagine they would have a few stories!

Posts : 1186 Join date : 2015-11-24

Your very welcome.. i have a few book's on Wood inc from midshipman to field marshal, our fighting
services, and winnowed memories. i will dig them out to see what references there are regarding
your ancestor. Evelyn is one of those cross over names..ie, both male and female, to think, it ran
through your family line is a real connection back to those far off day's of empire. xhosa

Subject: Re: Alexander Walkinshaw, D.C.M Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:43 pm

Sarah,

I have been looking for this photograph in my collection, can you imagine my disappointment when I discovered that Alexander is obscured in the photograph.

If you look closely he is behind the other top hat wearer, with just a glimpse of his face and top hat visible.

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The Funeral of Sir Henry Evelyn Wood, V.C., passing the Headquarters Building, Aldershot.
(John Young Collection.)

The visible pall-bearers in the photograph are - I believe - from right to left Admiral H. G. King-Hall; General Lord Rawlinson; General Sir Ian Hamilton & General Sir Archibald Hunter.

JY

Posts : 26 Join date : 2018-02-11

Thank you John, great catch! Shame you cant see him a bit clearer, but we do have many photos of him now. We are spoilt!

He's now in 4 different photo frames around the house! And so he should be :)

Posts : 3182 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Just a few more from the Pathe newsreel.

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Posts : 26 Join date : 2018-02-11

Not sure he's in the first one, but he's in the others with his medals!

I also think he's helping the coffin into the ground (his back is to the camera) i think its him because it looks like my Dad from behind

Posts : 3182 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Sarah289 wrote:: I also think he's helping the coffin into the ground (his back is to the camera) i think its him because it looks like my Dad from behind

I did think the same as you but could not prove it, so did not post it.

He is in the first photo, 2nd on the left, the man with all the medals.

Posts : 26 Join date : 2018-02-11

Oh i didn't see that! I was looking directly at the coffin and who was carrying it. Thank you for pointing it out!