Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald

Died on the 27/02/1919 in Canterbury of Spanish Flu

The Army Pay Services on the Eve of the Great War : Prior to the commencement of WW1 there were some 27 Army Pay Offices (APOs) throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. These APOs were responsible for the maintenance of pay and allowances of soldiers of the Regular Army and its Reserve, the Territorial Force and Special Reserve. The APOs were also responsible for the administration and payment of military pensions. The total of these elements that constituted the British Army was about 200,000. The structure of Army Pay Offices was based on fixed centre pay offices, each being responsible for a number of Corps and Regiments in the British Army. If the soldier moved to a new establishment or was mobilised for war, the respective APO remained within its static location in the United Kingdom. This system was known as the 'Dover' system, so named because a pilot scheme had been conducted at the experimental Army Pay Office at Dover (responsible for the accounts of the Royal Garrison Artillery) between 1904 and 1905. The Dover system remained the structure of Army Pay Offices until the last decade of the 20th century. Most pre-1914 APOs were small, having no more than thirty military staff comprising of APD officers and APC warrant officers, NCOs and soldiers. The pre August 1914 Army Pay Services establishment in the UK also employed civilian male clerks, a number being retired members of the APC. The Army Pay Services also employed civilian boy writers for clerical duties in their UK establishments. Alexander survived the war only to die from the Spanish Flu pandemic which killed many millions of 'healthy' young men from early 1918 to late 1920. He was a cross-country runner and member of the Monkland Harriers who represented Scotland in International competition in Paris in 1913. He was part of the relay team that brought back the Bronze Medal for Scotland. Alexander is listed as McDONALD on the Coatbridge Memorial. See comments below and thank you Sandy's Granddaughter Katherine Allan (Greer) for the information and photographs relating to her Grandfather. Sandy was remembered in the Museum of World Athletics Exhibition which opened in the St. Enoch Centre, Glasgow on the 02/02/2024. See photos for Sandy and No. 1 Section, his framed WW1 information, his framed photo and letter regarding athletics, a letter from Whifflet Colliery and photos x 2 of Katherine at St. Enoch Centre beside framed information. The letter regarding Sandy's selection for Paris International reads "I have to inform you that you have been selected to run for Scotland in the International Cross Country Championship. The race takes place in Paris on Monday 24th March 1913. Our party leaves Glasgow St. Enoch Station on Saturday 22nd March at 1pm. Sleep in London on Saturday night, then proceed to Paris by 10am. From Charing Cross arriving in Paris at 6.20pm on Sunday. Party leaves Paris at 2.30pm on Tuesday arriving about 9am in Glasgow on Wednesday. I will be glad to know that you can travel and hope you will keep yourself in condition for the race". I personally laid a Poppy at Sandy's grave on the 27/03/2022 (Mother's Day). See photos for Sandy's Army Register of Soldiers Effects (listed as dying in Canterbury and widow Agnes mentioned), his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, his Headstone Report x 2, a picture of Sandy and his wife Agnes, Old Monkland Cemetery, the Army Pay Corps Cap Badge, Sandy's Pension Record and another photo of his grave. His grave inscription reads "UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS".