Captain (later Colonel)

Alexander Stalker Lancaster CIE OBE

London Scottish, Later 10th Gurkha Rifles

Born 19th March 1893  Middleton Place, Patterdale

Died 2nd October 1967 Jersey Aged 74

Son of John William and Elizabeth Annie  (nee Stalker) Lancaster

Brother of John Elliot and Jonathan Raymond Lancaster

Alexander Stalker Lancaster was born on the 19th March 1893 at Middleton Place in Patterdale and baptised at St Patrick’s Church on the 21st May that year. He was the oldest son of John William Lancaster and his wife Elizabeth Annie (nee Stalker). John was employed as a miner at Greenside Mine in Glenridding. He had two further sons, John Elliot (born 1895) and Jonathan Raymond (born 1898). All three boys are likely to have attended Patterdale School in their early years, before tragedy beset the family. The first chapter of this is described in Ian Tyler’s book Greenside – A Tale of Lakeland Miners.

“On the 9th of April 1901 Joseph and James Watson, W Nanson, and John William Lancaster were sitting down having their bait. They had just settled down when, without warning, the floor beneath them suddenly gave way. Josepth Watson leapt and scrambled for his life as he felt the ground go, but his brother and the others plummeted into the black abyss below. Miraculously, James Watson survived with some internal bruising and W Nanson suffered concussion from falling debris. Alas, fate did not spare John Lancaster who was aged thirty-seven years at his death and was laid to rest in Patterdale Churchyard”

Alex’s father was buried on 13th April 1901. On the 25th Feb 1905 Alex’s mother Elizabeth married Robert Grisdale, a fellow widower, who was employed as a Farm Balliff at Home Farm in Patterdale. By 1911 the three brothers had split up. Alex was living in Mill Street Penrith, and working as a Draper’s apprentice. 16 year old John was working as a farm servant in Sockbridge, and 13 year old Jonathan was living with his step father Robert Grisdale, by now at Grisedale Lodge in Patterdale. Sadly tragedy struck again a year later when Robert died, and was buried at Patterdale on 7th Feb 1912.

We’re not sure when Alex joined the army but it is likely given his family circumstances that he relished the opportunity. We know that he initially joined the London Scottish Regiment, being listed as a Private in this regiment in the Westmorland Gazette Roll of Honour on the 16th Jan 1915. He received his commission at some point between then and 1916, and was made a Captain in April 1917. At some point he transferred to the Gurkha Regiment (“Goorkhas”), serving with both the 1-2 and 2-10 regiments, his permanent transfer to the Indian Army being confirmed in 1917.

After the war he stayed with the Army. At some point he seems to have moved to Gunnislake in Cornwall, before serving in India. We know he travelled out from London to Bombay in January 1922 aboard the Macedonia. We do not have full details of his career but we do know that he returned home from Bombay, India for a visit in May 1926 aboard the Rajputana,  and at the time his last permanent residence was given as the Indian Army Club on Horse Guards Avenue. He departed again this time for Karachi in November 1926 having spent his time in England living at the Army and Navy Club in London. Throughout this time he remained on the electoral roll in Patterdale with an address of Grassthwaite How.

We also know that from 1935 to 1938 he served as the Military Attache in  Kabul. It was whilst here that he received the prestigious MacGregor Memorial Medal (see picture on the left) in 1935. The MacGregor Medal was awarded to Indian Armed Forces personnel for valuable military reconnaissance, and we know from papers in the archives that he conducted a lot of surveys in the area during this time. Other illustrious recipients of the award include Sir Francis Younghusband (1890) and Major General Orde Wingate (1943).

Alex continued to serve as World War Two broke out, and from 1940-48 was again Military Attache in Kabul. Whilst in this role he was conducted Turkish Military Mission to India 1941, and the Afghan Military Mission to India 1944-45 (see below). There was more political intrigue than physical fighting in the area, but his skills were obviously appreciated as on 2nd June 1943 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE). His contribution was also recognised by the Americans, as in 1949 he was awarded the Awarded Medal of Freedom with Bronze Palm, awarded for “A meritorious act or service which has aided the United States in the prosecution of a war against an enemy or enemies and for which an award of another United States medal or decoration is considered inappropriate”.

In November 2021 we did some further research and found a blog site which detailed the Afghan Military Mission to India. Here is an extract

“From 4 December 1944 to 30 January 1945 an Afghan Military Mission to India toured the country, visiting army and air force divisions, witnessing weapon demonstrations and training events, and meeting military and civil functionaries.

A stable, independent Afghanistan on friendly terms with India was seen as vital to the defence of India and the Empire.  Led by Lieutenant General Muhammad Umar Khan, Chief of the Afghan General Staff, the tour was an opportunity to strengthen military and political ties between the Government of Afghanistan, the Government of India, and the British Government.

The Military Attaché at Kabul, Colonel Alexander Stalker Lancaster, had been heavily involved in the preparation of the tour programme, and accompanied the Mission group throughout their stay.  He submitted an incredibly detailed report following its completion, which makes for interesting reading.”

Extracts from the report into the Afghan Military Mission to India including a report written by Alex of some near misses during demonstrations of mortars. More documentation from Alex’s time in Kabul has now been digitised on the  Qatar Digital Library

After leaving Kabul we picked up his trail again in November 1951, sailing from London to Mombasa in Kenya aboard the Dunnotar Castle. Despite being 58, his occupation was still listed as “ARMY” on the ships manifest.  However by 1958, when we found him again, he had officially retired from the army (we believe in 1956), this time travelling from London to Durban in South Africa aboard the Durban Castle  as “Army Officer Retired”.

We have obtained a copy of Alex’s will, dated 3rd May 1965. From this we have established that he retired to Jersey in 1956, settling at the Victoria Club, 8 Beresford Street, St Helier, Jersey. This was  one of Jersey's oldest private members' clubs which closed in 2010. In his will he splits his estate between his two brothers John Elliot and John Raymond. His executors were listed as two of his nephews Joseph Raymond Lancaster (who was the son of John Elliot, and was living at the time at 6 Beverley Gardens, Barrow Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire) and Alexander Thomas Lancaster (also the son on  John Elliot, and living at 8 Branahuie, Stornaway, Isle of Lewis, Western Scotland).  He split his estate equally between his brothers, creating a trust fund for each as well as making individual bequests to his nephews John Edmondson, Alexander Thomas and Joseph Raymond as well as to his nieces, twins Margaret and Marion .  He also left £1000 to a “Miss Julia Thompson BA of Aycliffe, Beacon Street, Penrith, Cumberland” - maintaining the link with his childhood. Finally he left £100 to the “Staff Fund of the Victoria Club”.

He finally died on 2nd October 1967 at the General Hospital St Helier aged 74. He body was returned to Patterdale by his brothers, where he was buried alongside his parents at St Patrick’s Church. Their gravestone rests just outside the main south entrance to the Church (see photo below). A peaceful end to a remarkable life.

If you can add anything to the story of Alex or his family please contact us.

Below are some of Alex’s other medals and awards.

Colonel Alexander Stalkers Memorial alongside his parents in Patterdale Church

The Three Lancaster Brothers’ Medal Cards from World War One (above) and below the last page of Alex’s Will - with his signature.

Private John Elliot (Jack) Lancaster

1965/260656 - 1/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry and 7th Battalion Border Regiment

Born 23rd March 1895, Patterdale. Died Carlisle Dec 1968 aged 73  

Son of John William and Elizabeth Annie  (nee Stalker) Lancaster

Husband of Maggie Edmondson and Father of John, Alexander, Margaret and Marion

Brother of Alexander Stalker and Jonathan Raymond

John Elliot Lancaster was born on the 23rd March 1895 at Middleton Place in Patterdale and baptised at St Patrick’s Church on the 17th May that year. He was the second son of John William Lancaster and his wife Elizabeth Annie (nee Stalker), and younger brother of Alexander Stalker. The story of his early life, including the tragic story of his father’s death in Greenside Mine in 1901 is told in Alex’s life story above. By 1911 16 year old John was working as a farm servant in Sockbridge.

It is likely that he was enlisted in the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry prior to start of the war, and we know that he served with the 1/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry, alongside the likes of Edmund and Thomas Thompson. He disembarked in France on the 10th July 1915. The 1/1st of the Westmorland & Cumberland Yeomanry was mobilised in August 1914 and then attached to the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade. They were designated as the XI Corps, Cavalry Regiment in May 1916. It is likely that John served with “B Squadron” which was the Penrith squadron. In June 1917 it was announced that due to manpower shortages the Regiment would be dismounted and retrain as infantry. When they had completed the infantry conversion the regiment was re-designated the 7th (Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Battalion of the Border Regiment. The regiment served with distinction on the western front in many of the major battles including The Somme, Ypres, and Passchendaele.

John was awarded the 1914-15 Star (about the only medal his elder brother Alex never won!), The British War Medal and the Victory Medal. After the war he returned to Cumbria where we believe he married Maggie Edmondson in 1922. We believe they had four children, John Edmondson (born 1923), Alexander Thomas (born 1925), and twin daughters Margaret and Marion, born in 1930/31. Other that that we currently have no further details on his life until the references to him in brother Alex’s will (see above). We believe John Elliot died in Carlisle in 1968 at the age of 73. If you can add anything to his story, or that of his family, please contact us.

John Elliot Lancaster’s Medal Roll Card

Private Jonathan Raymond (Ray) Lancaster

9366 - 1st Battalion Honourable Artillery Company

Born 25th February 1898 Patterdale. Died Penrith Dec 1973 aged 75  

Son of John William and Elizabeth Annie  (nee Stalker) Lancaster

Husband of Sarah Ellen Baily (?) and Father of Joseph Raymond

Brother of Alexander Stalker and John Elliot Lancaster.

Jonathan Raymond Lancaster was born on the 25th February 1898 at Middleton Place in Patterdale and baptised at St Patrick’s Church on the 17th May that year. He was the third son of John William Lancaster and his wife Elizabeth Annie (nee Stalker), and younger brother of Alexander Stalker, and John Elliot. The story of his early life, including the tragic story of his father’s death in Greenside Mine in 1901 is told in Alex’s life story above. By 1911 13 year old Jonathan was living with his step father Robert Grisdale, by now at Grisedale Lodge in Patterdale. Sadly tragedy struck again a year later when Robert died, and was buried at Patterdale on 7th Feb 1912. So at the age of 14 Jonathan was left an orphan with his father, mother and step father all dead.

We’re not sure what happened to him from them until 1916, but Jonathan Raymond (“Raymond” as he was known), unsurprisingly with no parents alive, joined up as soon as he was of age, attesting on 11th November 1916. His address at that time was given as 31 Brougham Street Penrith. He joined the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion of the Honourable Artillery Company in March 1917. The Honourable Artillery Compnay, a Territorial regiment, was unique in that it was composed of both artillery and infantry, and it was also the oldest regiment in the British Army. It is unclear how Jonathan ended up in this regiment as none of the other men from the Dale did, although it is possible that his elder brother Alex, by 1917 a Captain, may have had some influence. What we do know is that Raymond served with them for the rest of the war until his discharge in 1919.

He returned to Patterdale after the war, and married Sarah Ellen Bailey on 26th October 1921.

Ray used to train John Edward Pool for his fell races - and in the picture to the left Ray is in the centre and John to the left, with Bertie McGhie. We believe that Ray ran the Travellers Rest Pub in Glenridding in the early 1930s, and ended up running the Castle Pub in Penrith, which was close to where Morrisons now is. He died in December 1973 in Penrith.

If you know anything else to add to the tragic but ultimately uplifting story of success after such a tragic childhood, of any of the three Lancaster brothers then please let us know.

Ray’s Medal Roll Card