John Alexander served in the First World War, he emigrated to Canada to do so. He enlisted in the 20th Battalion Expiditionary Force on the 12th November 1914. His rank on enlistment was Regimental Sergeant Major, later to be reduced to Sergeant for misconduct. On the 15th September 1916 he recieved a gun shot wound to the right knee at the battle of the Somme. On the 13th June 1919 he was discharged for being medically unfit.
John Alexander began work at Darwen Paper Mill as a Colourmixer (Journeyman) around 1891. He Emigrated to Canada and started work the sister factory named Stauntons Wallpaper Manufacturer as a foreman. When the First World War was over he moved three of his four Children (John Malcolm, Alexander and Doris) and a female Alice Baines (whom we believe he never married) over from Darwen Lancashire to Canada. His son Frederick Stayed in Darwen. John Alexander worked for the same Wallpaper Manufacturer for a total of 60 years and in a newspaper cutting it states that he was late for work twice in the 60 years that he worked there. On retirement he recieved a Mahogany Writing Desk.
Around 1945 he returned to Darwen to visit his sister Christina then living at Westwell Street with her second husband William Baines. (unrelated to Alice Baine whom John Alexander emigrated to Canada with)