More about Alexander Prain

Alex was the brother of Pte William Prain, 941, Guards Machine Gun Regiment.

17th September 1914, Arrived at Guards Depot, Caterham to begin training. 7 April 1915, sailed from Southampton to Le Havre and then to La Tombe Willot.

27 Sept 1915, Alex suffered a G.S.W. to his foot during the battle of LOOS and war sent to UK via Hospital ship Cambria and then to Queen Alexandria’s Hospital, London for treatment. Discharged from hospital Jan 1916 and joined 3rd Reserve Bn at Wellington Barracks where he was trained and qualified as a bomber (hand grenades).

13th Jan 1917, returned to France  and proceeded  to  base camp at Harfluer.  By 23rd January 1917, his Battalion was in action near Ypres where he received a shrapnel wound to his arm and was initially treated at the 3rd Field Ambulance Dressing Station at Canada Farm and was then transferred to No 16 General Hospital at Le Treport. On 13 August 1917 he was discharged and returned to active duty.

3 Jan 1917 Alex returned home on leave and married  Elizabeth Queen in Dundee. Alex returned to duty 17 Sept 1918 and was back in action by 2 Oct.

11 Oct 1918 Alex was killed in action in the fighting at the village of St. Hilaire, His brother William was at the time serving with the Guards Machine Gun Company which was in the same village on the same day  providing cover and support to the infantry.