Major Alexander Wilson Stenhouse ERD* TD* Royal Artillery
The Man Alexander Wilson Stenhouse was born on Friday 14th June 1907 at 0420h at 8 Inchaffray Street, Perth, Scotland. Son of Alexander Millar, a Joiner, Journeyman and Catherine nee Drummond. Alexander was educated at Glasgow University and joined the Officer’s Training Corps as an Officer Cadet. He was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant into the 79th (Lowland) Field Brigade, Royal Artillery on 14th June 1935 aged 28, with service number 65746. His civilian occupation was a Senior Clerical Officer at the Central Electricity Board and he was living at 41 Winton Drive, Glasgow. On 13th April 1937 in St John’s Renfield Church, Glasgow, Alexander married Josephine Margaret Malcolm. Josephine was an artist specialising in miniature portraits, flowers, animals, landscapes and houses. They had one son Nigel Malcolm William born in 1942. On 14th June 1938 Alexander was promoted to Lieutenant and living with Josephine at Winton Drive. At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, Alexander was mobilised and embodied. His specific service is not known, but he was on an operational unit as he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45, indicating he may have been in the British Expeditionary Force in France, or the Norwegian Campaign. On 11th April 1945 he was promoted to Captain and Temporary Major and on 5th December 1946 awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’. Alexander was transferred to the TA Reserve of Officers, Army Emergency Reserve during 1948 and then onto the General List Army Emergency Reserve in February 1952 aged 45. By now he and Josephine had settled in London, possibly with his work and in 1957 they were living at 17A Inner Park Road, Wandsworth. In the London Gazette of 15th July 1960, he was awarded the Army Emergency Reserve Decoration and appearing in the same edition, the 1st clasp to his Efficiency Decoration. This was followed in July 1967 by the award of the 1st clasp to the Emergency Reserve Decoration. By now Alexander was living at 7 Chesil Court, Chelsea Manor Road, Chelsea. On April 1967 following its formation, he was transferred from the AER Reserve of Officers into the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. He retired from the Army on 1st September 1967 aged 60. During the first quarter of 1981, Josephine died and Alexander nine years later on 1st May 1990 aged 82.
The Story The unusual combination of medals awarded to Alexander Wilson Stenhouse were acquired from E-Bay in May 2020. They had been initially pointed out by a colleague from the BMS and of immediate interest because of the Emergency Reserve and Efficiency Decoration combination; similar to another in this collection belong to Leslie Frank Gray, and a photograph of the recipient. Also appealing was the fact each of the Decorations had been awarded a clasp, the TD clasp in the same London Gazette as the award of the ERD! The usual trawl of Ancestry.UK, London Gazette and Scotland’s People allowed a brief biography to be pieced together.
Selection of photographs and family business cards that came with the group.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded. .
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Emergency Reserve Decoration: 1960 Clasp: 1967
- Efficiency Decoration: 1946 Clasp: 1960
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: George William STARLING Jnr
Go next Page: Horace William STOCKHAM
Go to Previous Page: George William STARLING Jnr
Go next Page: Horace William STOCKHAM
This page last updated 31 May 20