Alexander Perry Reid was born on 26 March 1875 in the townland of Ballymacormick, Bangor and he was a son of Hugh and Anna Maria Reid (nee Finlay) who were married on 26 March 1874 in Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church. Hugh Reid, a farmer from Ballymacormick was a son of Robert Reid, a farmer. Anna Maria Finlay from Ballymacormick was a daughter of James Finlay, a farmer.
Alexander Perry Reid’s mother, Anna Maria Reid, died eight days after he was born – on 2 April 1875 (aged 29).
Alexander Perry Reid moved to Canada and on 15 September 1915 he enlisted at Peace River Crossing, Alberta. In his attestation papers, it was noted that he was 5 feet 11½ inches tall with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He had scars on both wrists and his upper lip, and he cited as his next-of-kin his aunt, Mrs E. McCutcheon, who lived in the townland of Balloo, Bangor. He described himself as a ‘manager’.
Alexander Perry Reid sailed from Halifax aboard the SS Olympic on 28 April 1916 and arrived in England on 7 May 1916. In June 1916 he was posted to France. On 21 June 1916 he made his will in which he bequeathed his homestead in Canada and all his personal effects to his aunt, Mrs Robert McCutcheon. Eleanor Finlay and Robert McCutcheon were married on 18 September 1884 in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church.
On 27 June 1916 he sustained multiple shrapnel wounds to his shoulder, arm, hand, hip and leg and was in Northamptonshire War Hospital at Duston from 14 July 1916 until 4 August 1916. After further recuperation in the Canadian Division Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom he was discharged on 30 August 1916 and continued his military service in England. In December 1919 he was scheduled for return to Canada for demobilisation and was granted special leave on 22 December to visit his aunt and uncle in Ireland.
Sergeant Alexander Perry Reid served with the 49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry and he was 44 when he died of bronchial asthma in the Military Barracks, Clifton Street, Belfast on 27 December 1919 and he was buried in Bangor Old Abbey Churchyard (the name of the cemetery used in the CWGC Debt of Honour).
Sergeant Alexander Perry Reid is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM); in the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance (Page 541); in the Comrades of the Great War (Bangor Branch) Album in North Down Museum (Page 68); on the Royal British Legion (Bangor Branch) Memorial Plaque and on the Perry family grave headstone in Bangor Old Abbey Churchyard.
1875 Mar 26. Born Bangor, Co Down
1919 Dec 27 . died of Acute adenoma of the Lung, Military Hospital/Barracks, Clifton Street, Bangor Co Down aged 44 CWGC Son of Hugh and the late Anna Maria Reid.