17834 Harold Rupert Leofric George ALEXANDER, KG GCB OM GCMG CSI DSO MC CD PC PC(Can), Irish Guards

Random addition of the excellent portrait of Alex by Karsh in 1946.

Showing off his movie star charm here.

 

Caught on film serving with the Irish Guards at Loos, 1915

 

Written by Lt Bill Beadle travelling on an LST from Bizerte to to Bari on Christmas Day 1943.

I heard the king’s speech an hour ago and wasn’t much impressed.
Far more inspiring was the earlier news that Alexander is in command in Italy.
We’ve all made rather a hero of Alex in 1 Div. and hoped for something like this for him.
I hope he has the luck to make a big success of it. (for God knows, you need plenty of luck as well as judgement in a game like this.

I also like the story told by Brian Harpur in his book The Impossible Victory when he met Alex in a stable whilst attending a course.

Whatever criticism is thrown at him, He "Looked the Part". A great attribute for a Commander.
Not many of his men were able to speak to him but they all seemed to know when he turned up at Anzio and anywhere else that he visited. No Gimmicks like Monty but always very smart, even when wearing his Bomber Jacket.
His batman must have been a busy chap.