Grave of Alexander William Connington
Alexander William Connington (d.1918)
Alexander William Connington was born in Sydney, Australia, to William James Connington and Mary Connington. The family lived at Goulbourn, New South Wales. William had emigrated to Australia from North Wales.
Alexander became a fitter and turner with New South Wales Government Railways. After the outbreak of the First World War he joined the Australian Infantry Force but was soon discharged for being under-age. He rejoined when he was old enough, in September 1916. The following month he left for Britain, where he began to train as an aircraft fitter.
After a spell in hospital, he was sent to the Western Front in France with the Australian Flying Corps. He was promoted to Corporal in June 1918 and began to train as a pilot.
His career was punctuated by periods in hospital. In October 1918 he died of pneumonia in a hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. He was 23 years old. His aunt Rebecca Connington and cousin Mary Connington, who lived on Anglesey, arranged for him to be buried at Church Island.
Mary was a nurse at the town’s Red Cross hospital during the war. For many years she taught at Menai Bridge Church School.
With thanks to Bridget Geoghegan