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battle of arras
Private Alexander Andre Moodie
Born in 1897, Alexander Andre Moodie lived in
Edinburgh with his father, two sisters and
brother after his parents separated.
In July 1915 Moodie decided to enlist with
the 9th Royal Scots Battalion. He was only
17, therefore too young to legally serve but he
provided a false date of birth.
The minimum enlisting age was 18 and men had to
be at least 19 before serving overseas. However,
it is estimated that around 250,000 British
soldiers enlisted under age either by providing
a false name or date of birth. Moodie stated that
he was 19 years and five months.
Private Moodie was sadly killed in action on
the first day of the Battle of Arras. Although he
doesn’t have a grave, his name is engraved on the
Arras Memorial as well as on the War Memorial in
the Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh.