Adam Ronald Alexander – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Sergeant Adam Ronald Alexander – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Birth and Family Background
Adam Ronald Alexander was born in 1916 at Blackpool,
Lancashire. He was the son of James Henry Stephen Edward William Vibert
Alexander and Sarah Margaret Rosetta Davies, who were married in 1906
at St James’ Church, Hatcham, Lewisham, London.James Henry Stephen Edward William Vibert Alexander and Sarah Margaret Rosetta Davies
marriage certificate
St James’ Church, Hatcham, Lewisham, London
The marriage certificate is the only known civil record of James
Alexander; however, his Royal Navy service records have survived and
record his place of birth as “Born at Sea.”
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| 1921 Census |
The 1921 Census records the family residing at 14 Flen Street, Blackpool. Sarah Margaret Alexander, born in London and aged 36, was recorded as head of the household. Living with her were her children James W. (13), Alfred W. (12), George E. (9), and Adam R. (4), all of whom were attending school, together with Frank, aged three months. Also present in the household was a boarder, Adam M. McInnes (36), born in Liverpool, who was employed as a Marine Engineer.
Later Family Circumstances
In 1930, Sarah Margaret Alexander married Alfred
Maynard.
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| 1939 Register |
The 1939 Register records the family residing at 57 Southward Lane, Newton. Alfred Maynard was employed as a Gardener and Bar Cellar Man, while Sarah Margaret Maynard undertook unpaid domestic duties. The household included James W., working as a Market Gardener (own account), and George E., employed as a Lorry Driver and Salesman, both of whom were recorded as undertaking Mercantile Marine War Service. Also present were Adam R., employed as a Chartered Accountants’ Audit Clerk, and Frank, who was recorded as a Builder’s Labourer, now Garage Attendant.
Military Service
Adam Ronald Alexander served with the Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, holding the rank of Sergeant. He was posted
to No. 71 Operational Training Unit, based at Gordon’s Tree, Sudan.Gordon’s Tree, Sudan
Gordon’s Tree was a remote Royal Air Force training and
operational landing ground in a sparsely populated desert area of Sudan,
named after a solitary tree that served as a local landmark. During the Second
World War, it formed part of the RAF Middle East training network,
supporting the preparation of aircrew for operations across North Africa,
the Middle East, and East Africa. Units based there included Operational
Training Units (OTUs), where pilots progressed from basic flying to
operational aircraft and combat-style flying.
The environment at Gordon’s Tree was harsh and
unforgiving, with extreme heat, dust storms, and featureless terrain making
navigation difficult. Training flights were often conducted over open desert,
where mechanical failure, spatial disorientation, or loss of control
could prove fatal, even during non-combat sorties.
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| Tomahawk IIB |
The Tomahawk had a tendency to lose speed rapidly in
tight manoeuvres and was susceptible to entering a spin if
mishandled, particularly during training exercises and low-level flying.
Recovery from spins could be difficult at low altitude, making training flights
especially dangerous. As a result, non-combat flying accidents were not
uncommon, and many airmen were killed while training rather than in combat.
Death and Burial
On 18th March 1942, while flying a Tomahawk
IIB on a training flight, Sergeant Adam Ronald Alexander spun
into the ground approximately five miles east of Gordon’s Tree and
was killed in action.
Personnel who died while serving at Gordon’s Tree were
typically buried at Khartoum War Cemetery, which became the principal
Commonwealth burial ground for RAF and Army personnel who died in Sudan during
the war. Sergeant Adam Ronald Alexander was buried there.
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