Alexander entered the war in the Balkans on 30th July 1915. He is mentioned in a list of men who went with Lt Smith and a party of stretcher-bearers to collect wounded between Green Knoll and The Pimple, Suvla on 17th August 1915. He was originally listed as missing but it was later determined that he had been wounded and captured. In February 1916 he was being held in the Kiangri Internment Camp. He was the son of the A G & A M (Stepmother) James of 13 Kylemore Road, West Hampstead, London.