Cecil Charles Alexander's Story.
Birkenhead News 23 June 1915DR. J. RATCLIFF-GAYLARD LOSES HIS ELDEST SON.
Killed in the Dardanelles.
A large number of people in Birkenhead will join us in regretting the loss suffered by Dr. and Mrs. J. Ratcliff-Gaylard, of Clifton Park, in the death of their eldest son, Cecil Charles Alexander Ratcliff-Gaylard, who was killed in the operations in the Dardanelles. He was a member of the Headquarters Staff, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade, Australian Expeditionary Force, and had been engaged in the fighting around the Suez Canal, Egypt, before his Brigade was transferred to the Dardanelles. He was educated at King’s College, Taunton, where he was in the Bisley Eight of his school, being an excellent shot, and was “Victor Ludorum” in his last year. Later he went to Aberdeen University, and was in the students’ corps there of the Gordon Highlanders. About four years ago he went out to New South Wales, Australia, where he held a responsible position as assistant manager on a ranch where nothing but prize cattle were bred for stud purposes. Dr. Gaylard’s youngest son is at present a member of the Inns of Court Officer’s Training Corps in camp at Birkhampstead.