ALEXANDER JOHN GLOVER 

Alexander John was the second son and fifth child of Edward Otho and Minnie Mary Glover, of The Bent, Simon’s Lane, Frodsham. His father was the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Cheshire County Council and was Chairman of the County Council (1948-52). He had been manager of the Castner Kellner Works in Runcorn and became Director of I.C.I.

Alexander was born in Frodsham in the winter months of 1919, and his birth was registered in Runcorn. He followed his father and elder brother Alan to school at Shrewsbury.

After school, Alexander was the premium pupil to the chief engineer of the Liverpool Gas Company. He volunteered for the Royal Naval Reserve and entered as a Probationary Midshipman on 24 May 1939.


Hampshire Telegraph, 23 June, 1940.

Alexander was directly involved in the evacuation of Dunkirk, which began on 26 May 1940. He was serving on the HMS Gracie Fields, a paddle steamer from the Isle of Wight which was sunk during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) after evacuating 280 troops on the first day. Although 750 troops were rescued after the steamer was hit and then sunk, Alexander was reported missing and later presumed drowned. It was the second tragic loss in eight months for the family. His brother Flying Officer Alan Otho Glover was killed in a flying accident 29 October, 1939.





Liverpool Evening Express, 4 July, 1940.


Chester Chronicle, 6 July, 1940.

St. Lawrence's Memorial Stone.

The memorial stone reads:

A special faculty was required in order to make the improvements to the porch and install the memorial, which was granted by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Mr H. H. King, at Chester Consistory Court, on 28 August 1946.

Alexander is remembered at the side of his brother Alan’s headstone in Frodsham; however, his name is also on the Portsmouth Naval memorial, panel 44, column 2.

Research by Fiona Barry.