Alexander was born in Melton on 28th April 1889. In 1911, he was living with his father and mother in Chesapeake Villa on Melton Road. His occupation was shown as a draper’s assistant although he was unemployed at the time of the census.

Alexander enlisted into the Suffolk Yeomanry on 16th November 1914. He joined the 2/1st Suffolk Yeomanry – a training battalion for the Suffolk Yeomanry based in Suffolk. Due to a medical condition, Alexander did not prove fit enough to go overseas. He was discharged from the army on 17th August 1916 and given the Silver War Badge.

On 11th September 1921, Alexander married Ellen Chapman in Melton. They had two children. In 1939 the family were living in Ilford, Essex, where he died in 1963.