58th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
18/04/1875
Died:
27/06/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
42
Summary
Alexander McCrea was the eldest son of Alexander and Margaret McCrea. He was born on 18th April 1875. He was the oldest of at least seven children, all born in the Clogher area. Alexander enlisted in Royal Horse Artillery and is believed to have served in the Boer War. He was in the landings at Gallipoli. Alex was promoted to substantive 2nd Lieutenant. Alex was killed in France on 27 June 1917 aged 42 years. A fellow officer, Lt Sanders, was wounded by a shell and Alex went out to bring him in but a second shell killed them both.
Ferme-Olivier Cemetery is located 7 kilometres north west of Ieper town centre on the Steentjesmolenstraat, N333, a road leading from the N8 Veurnseweg connecting Ieper to Elverdinge and on to Veurne. From Ieper town centre the Veurnseweg (N8) is reached via Elverdingsestraat, then turning right onto Haiglaan. Veurnseweg is a continuation of Haiglaan. On reaching the village of Elverdinge the Steentjesmolenstraat, N333, is the second left hand turning. The cemetery lies 1.3 kilometres along the Steentjesmolenstraat on the left hand side of the road.
