Lieutenant-Colonel Leigh Arbuthnot Alexander (4 July 1898 – 28 April 1943) was a British Army officer and cricketer.

Early life

Alexander was the son of Major William Alexander and Ethel Rubina Arbuthnot and brother of Gilbert Alexander. He was born at Umzinto, Colony of Natal, South Africa.

Leigh Alexander

Military career

Alexander joined the Gurkhas on 11 May 1917 during the First World War and first saw service on the North West Frontier. He was commissioned into the British Indian Army on the 27 October 1917. He was promoted to Captain in 1922 and to Major in 1935.

Leigh Alexander

In the Second World War he commanded the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles, and took part in the 1st Chindit expedition, a deep penetration raid behind Japanese lines, with the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, when he died during the operation. His is buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery.

Leigh Alexander

Cricket

He played first-class cricket in three matches in the 1920s.

References

External links

1898 births

1943 deaths

People from uMdoni Local Municipality

White South African people

Indian Army personnel killed in World War II

Royal Gurkha Rifles officers

South African cricketers

Europeans cricketers

Indian Army personnel of World War I

Burials at Taukkyan War Cemetery

Cricketers from KwaZulu-Natal

Military personnel from KwaZulu-Natal