221831 Alexander Toole British Army Durham Light Infantry from:2 Heap Row, Leasingthorne, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham Alexander Toole was my maternal grandfather. He joined the Durham Light Infantry during World War One, as did his younger brother, James Toole, and cousin, Richard Toole. I cannot find any military records citing his name, battalion, rank or field of combat. Family folklore states he was a cook in the Catering Corps, though as a coal miner he had no experience, other than home cooking, that we are aware of!
Alexander had a wife and two young sons at the outbreak of war (aged 3 years and 1 year) and after surviving the war and returning home he went on to have 3 more sons and 1 daughter, my mother. He is named on the Roll of Honour in Coundon Working Men's Club near Bishop Auckland. He died in 1960, aged 73.
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