More about Alexander Boothroyde

Alexander has no known grave but is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Alexander Boothroyde   CZ/958  Nelson Bn Royal Naval Division

DUNDEE FOOTBALLER WOUNDED.

A.S. Alex. Boothroyde, a well-known Dundee football player, has been wounded for the second time.  Mr John Boothroyde, 29 Constitution Street, Dundee, has received intimation that his son had been admitted to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds in the arm and left leg.  Alexander, who is 20 years of age, was previously wounded in the Gallipoli campaign.  Prior to enlisting in the Royal Naval Division, he was employed with Mr William Adamson, wirework manufacturer, Nethergate.  He was also a prominent football player, having played at centre forward for Celtic.

Dundee Courier 9th February 1917

Alexander Boothroyde was the son of Mr John Boothroyde of 29 Constitution Street, Dundee and was employed as a Wireworker when he volunteered for service in the Royal Naval Division in October 1914. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he went to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training. On completion he was drafted to the Benbow Battalion. He sailed for Gallipoli in May 1915 and took part in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June 1915. The RND suffered enormous losses in this battle and the Benbow Battalion was disbanded and the men transferred to other Naval Battalions. Alexander Boothroyde joined the Anson Battalion and was wounded by shrapnel in the left elbow in October 1915. He was evacuated to a hospital in Cairo and later taken by the Hospital Ship Egypt to the Haslar Naval Hospital in Gosport, Hampshire. He rejoined the Anson in February 1916 at Mudros in the Aegean and sailed with the Battalion to France in May 1916. He was wounded again during the last Battle on the Somme on 13 November 1916 and suffered gunshot wounds to the hand, elbow and leg. He was evacuated to Glasgow for treatment and, on recovery, reported back to Blandford. He had leave home in January 1917 and returned to France in June 1917. The RND was sent to Passchendaele in October 1917 and Alexander Boothroyde was reported first as wounded on 26 October 1917 and then missing. After his body was not found it was assumed he was killed in action on that day. He is named on the Tyne Cot Cemetery Memorial. His name is given as Boothman in the Naval History Net casualty lists and is spelt without an “e” and with number 70985 in the Dundee City Roll of Honour.