[1] See also the website The College of St Hild and St Bede:The Sounding of the Retreat.
[2] The evidence for Alexander Speirs's service with the 1/7th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers comprises his listing in the battalion's embarkation roll - he is listed in No. 4 Company - and reports in issues of The Berwickshire News and Advertiser of 14th November 1916 (p 5) and 12th December 1916 (p 4). His medal index card, and medal rolls entry relate only to his service as No. 42349 with the South Staffordshire Regiment. Alexander was born in Berwick on Tweed late in 1897, and therefore would have been only just 17 when he enlisted in 1915 as reported in the papers. This is quite possible, but it is surprising that absolutely no military record of his early service has yet been found, apart from his name in the 1/7th battalion embarkation roll.