His father had bought Garretts Farm when Thomas was a young boy and he spent 69 years there. He was both a farmer and gravel merchant, the product extracted from their land. In 1940 he was the Chairman of the Island branch of the National Farmers Union, having been a founder member. He was also a member of the Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society and a secretary of the Arreton Branch of the Isle of Wight Conservative and Unionist Association for over 40 years until 1956. He was a Grand Master of the Oddfellows.
He married Caroline Sarah Hunt in 1892. His eldest son, Thomas Edgar, was killed in 1915 while serving with the Isle of Wight Rifles. His wife died in 1919. He came from a long lived family and remained active until very shortly before his death aged 90.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport All Fours Outstation | Operator | unknown | unknown |
Assistant manger for Government and road works contractors
Samuel Watson's account records Mr T H Alexander of Garretts Farm as one of his earliest recruits on the Isle of Wight. This was most likely at the Home Defence Organisation stage in early summer of 1940. He was older than other recruits from this period and does not seem to have gone on to lead or take part in an Auxiliary Units Patrol.
Arthur Gabbitas, a Royal Signals NCO, recalled Mr Alexander as being linked the operator for Omagh 4, the Newport All Fours outstation. It is possible this was Thomas Hinton Alexander given his recruitment by Sammy Watson. However, his neighbour at Dropping Rock on St George's Down was his son James Howard Alexander and at Great Sullens Farm was his other son Henry Wolfe Alexander, making it difficult to be sure which Alexander was the operator. Quite possibly the whole family was involved in the Special Duties network.
1939 Register
Arthur Gabbitas
Samuel Watson account (Isle of Wight Archive)
1911 census
www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/databases/warservice?surname=Alexander&rid=…;
Isle of Wight County Press 27 Jul 1957