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Gunner Alexander McCausland
Description
TitleGunner Alexander McCauslandSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionAlexander was born at Kimberly on 30th December 1892, youngest son of Charles and Eliza McCausland, Kimberly. He was educated at the local school and was an active member of the Kimberley Cricket and Football Clubs being regarded as one of the best athletes in the district. Alexander proved himself very popular in Kimberley, and was instrumental in helping along to success the various clubs established in the district. Before enlisting he was farming on his father’s property. He was 6ft 1in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair.
Alexander enlisted on 3 February 1915, one of the first men in the Kimberley district to enlist for active service. He was assigned to the 5th Reinforcements, Canterbury Mounted rifles. He embarked 13th June from Wellington. At Mudros he was posted to the 1st Squadron, and saw six -weeks' active service on Gallipoli, being in the last batch at the evacuation. He was evacuated to Egypt landing at Alexandria on Boxing Day 1915. After a month in Alexandria he was sent to Ismailia on 23rd January 1917. During the reorganisation of forces there for the front in France he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Field Artillery and joined them at Mouscar on 9 March, leaving with them for France from Port Said on 14 April. Once in the field in France he was transferred to the 13th Battery on 11 May 1916. He saw some very hard fighting during the Somme battles and was wounded on 7 September with a gunshot to his arm. He was treated in France and returned to his unit on 21st November 1916. Three weeks later he was appointed cook. However it appears that cooking could be just as dangerous as fighting for on 30th March he injured his leg. He was on the wagon lines engaged on his duty of cook when he slipped and as he fell his leg was caught on a hook and caused the injury. It was determined that he was in no way to blame. He must have been a good cook for after he was treated and returned to his unit on 15 April he was re-appointed cook. Two months later on 1st June he was wounded again, this time a gunshot wound to his left thigh. The Artillery had been laying down a heavy barrage prior to the attack about to begin at Messines. Their War History notes that “The enemy guns were very active during the night of June 1, Hyde Park Corner, where there was always much traffic, being persistently shelled”. This is possibly where Alexander was wounded. He was admitted to a casualty clearing station and then he was transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereaux a week later but his wound was serious enough that he was sent to England from Boulogne on board the St Patrick on 11th June. He was admitted to the 2nd New Zealand General Hospital at Walton-on-Thames the same day. However he died on 22nd June, aged 24, of septic shock and gangrene of his left foot. In the days before antibiotics little could be done when wound became septic from the detritus of the trenches. He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery. In New Zealand he is remembered on The Malvern County War Memorial.
First NameAlexanderLast NameMcCauslandFamilySingleYoungest son of Charles and Eliza McCausland, KimberlyDate of Birth30 December 1892Place of BirthKimberlyDate of Death 22 June 1917Place of DeathMessines, BelgiumCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death24
Alexander enlisted on 3 February 1915, one of the first men in the Kimberley district to enlist for active service. He was assigned to the 5th Reinforcements, Canterbury Mounted rifles. He embarked 13th June from Wellington. At Mudros he was posted to the 1st Squadron, and saw six -weeks' active service on Gallipoli, being in the last batch at the evacuation. He was evacuated to Egypt landing at Alexandria on Boxing Day 1915. After a month in Alexandria he was sent to Ismailia on 23rd January 1917. During the reorganisation of forces there for the front in France he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Field Artillery and joined them at Mouscar on 9 March, leaving with them for France from Port Said on 14 April. Once in the field in France he was transferred to the 13th Battery on 11 May 1916. He saw some very hard fighting during the Somme battles and was wounded on 7 September with a gunshot to his arm. He was treated in France and returned to his unit on 21st November 1916. Three weeks later he was appointed cook. However it appears that cooking could be just as dangerous as fighting for on 30th March he injured his leg. He was on the wagon lines engaged on his duty of cook when he slipped and as he fell his leg was caught on a hook and caused the injury. It was determined that he was in no way to blame. He must have been a good cook for after he was treated and returned to his unit on 15 April he was re-appointed cook. Two months later on 1st June he was wounded again, this time a gunshot wound to his left thigh. The Artillery had been laying down a heavy barrage prior to the attack about to begin at Messines. Their War History notes that “The enemy guns were very active during the night of June 1, Hyde Park Corner, where there was always much traffic, being persistently shelled”. This is possibly where Alexander was wounded. He was admitted to a casualty clearing station and then he was transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereaux a week later but his wound was serious enough that he was sent to England from Boulogne on board the St Patrick on 11th June. He was admitted to the 2nd New Zealand General Hospital at Walton-on-Thames the same day. However he died on 22nd June, aged 24, of septic shock and gangrene of his left foot. In the days before antibiotics little could be done when wound became septic from the detritus of the trenches. He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery. In New Zealand he is remembered on The Malvern County War Memorial.
First NameAlexanderLast NameMcCauslandFamilySingleYoungest son of Charles and Eliza McCausland, KimberlyDate of Birth30 December 1892Place of BirthKimberlyDate of Death 22 June 1917Place of DeathMessines, BelgiumCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death24
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageMalvern War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryBrookwood Military CemeteryMalvern County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingFarmer Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Mounted RiflesService Number7/1117Embarkation13th June 1915Reinforcement5th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Gunner Alexander McCausland. Selwyn Stories, accessed 11/02/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/307
