The Scottish War Graves Project

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

TWEEDIE, ALEXANDER
Lieut., The Blues & Royals, Household Cavalry Regiment.
It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence can confirm the death of Lieutenant Alexander Tweedie in an Edinburgh hospital on 22 April. This was following an accident on 1 April in which Lance Corporal Karl Shearer was killed.
Lieutenant Tweedie, who was 25, had served for two and a half years in D Squadron, The Blues & Royals, Household Cavalry Regiment.
His family issued the following statement:
"Alexander's death has shocked and saddened us greatly, and words cannot adequately express the depth of our grief. He was a wonderful, loving son who brightened the lives of everyone who knew him. He was proud to serve with the Household Cavalry, and had a very promising career ahead of him. We are proud of Alexander and will remember him in our hearts forever."
His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark van der Lande OBE, said:
"It was with great sadness that the Household Cavalry Regiment learnt of the death of Lieutenant Alexander Tweedie of The Blues & Royals. He died 22 April of the injuries he received when his Scimitar armoured vehicle overturned in Iraq on 1 April 2003. Despite the excellent medical care which Alexander received, both in the Gulf and afterwards from the National Health Service, he never recovered from his coma. Alexander was an excellent officer. Popular with all, he matched very positive leadership from the front with a deep care for his men. He led his Troop in battle with skill, determination and great coolness under fire. He will be sorely missed by us all. His death, like those of Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, and Lance Corporal Karl Shearer, is a tragic loss to the Regiment. These losses touch with sadness the great pride that I and the Household Cavalry Regiment feel for the achievements of D Squadron in Iraq. The recent weeks have been particularly difficult for Alexander's parents. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."

And in Minto Church are the following:

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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

Not buried in the cemetery but commemorated on his parents headstone:

BERRY, FRANCIS
Private No. 40069, 2nd Battn. (25th Foot) The King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Only s. of Francis Berry, of Minto, Hawick. Forester to the Earl of Minto on his Roxburgh and Selkirkshire Estates, by his wife, Catherine, dau. of John Merchant, Farmer; b. Culquoich, Towie co. Aberdeen, 19 Jan. 1896; educ. Minto Public School and Hawick High School, was employed on the staff of Messrs George and James Cliver, Solicitors, Hawick, joined the 2/4th King's Own Scottish Borderers in Oct. 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Aug 1916; transferred to the 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers in Aug; was reported wounded and missing after the fighting at Morval, during the Battle of the Somme, 25 Sept. following, and is now presumed to have been killed in action on that date. Letters from comrades state that he had successfully delivered some despatches at Headquarters, and that on rejoining his company, he was sent out on patrol; the shell fire was terrific, and it is believed he met his death by the bursting of a shell; unm.
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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....