| Alexander (Sandy) Jeffers was the son of Alexander and Annie Jeffers. He was born about 1922.
|
| Known family: Alexander Jeffers, Annie Jeffers, Alexander Jeffers (born about 1922).
|
|
| 1944
|
| Fusilier Alexander Jeffers was serving with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 3rd November 1943.
|
| Fusilier Alexander Jeffers was killed during the battalion assault on the town of San Salvo, west of the River Trigno. The assault commenced at 0400hrs on 3rd November and by 1300hrs with the support of artillery and armour the battalion was firmly established. The battalion lost two officers (three others were wounded), with 15 other ranks killed and 45 wounded.
|
| The following is an account of the battle by Colonel Nelson Russell - THE SECOND BATTLE OF SAN SALVO — NOVEMBER 2nd-3rd.
|
| ‘The plan was that the Skins were to capture San Salvo and the ridge on the left, while the Buffs were to capture the ridge to the right of the town. The first part of the attack was to take p1ace just before first light, and from first light onwards the two infantry battalions were to have the assistance of a regiment of tanks. The Buffs had a pretty clear run through on the right, but there was ding-dong fighting for San Salvo all day. Elements of the Skins got into the town quite early in the morning and the town was pretty well occupied by noon, but there was a lot of tidying up to be done and the Germans counter attacked a couple of times. The Germans had reacted very strongly to our advance, and rushed forward quite a number of tanks to support some already in the wood south of the town. There was a good deal of manoeuvring and tank fighting and the enemy was not finally on the run until about 1700 hours. The Skins did magnificently, but they lost some outstanding chaps. Hobo Crocker and Basil Hewitt were killed. We were pretty badly bombed twice during the day near my Command Post and more casualties were caused by this than in the actual battle. I mention this as it was so unusual, nowadays, for the Germans to bomb us, we are so completely masters of the air. The large number of casualties was probably due to this.’
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th February 1944: Coagh District L.O.L. No. 10
|
|
| The quarterly meeting of Coagh District L.O.L. No. 10 was held in Coagh Orange Hall, Bro James Sloss, D.D.M., in the chair and Bro William Nesbitt, District Secretary, in the vice-chair. A vote of sympathy was passed to the relatives of the late Bro A Forsythe, D.M., of L.O.L. No. 1436. Resolutions of sympathy were also passed to the following Orangemen of the District who have lost sons killed in action:- Bros Thomas Currie, Samuel Hartley and Alex Jeffers.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 18th March 1944:
|
|
| JEFFERS – The officers and members of Drumconvis L.O.L. No 794 regret the death of their esteemed member, Bro Sandy Jeffers (killed in action in the Central Mediterranean), and son of their esteemed member Bro Alec Jeffers, and render to him, his wife and family, their deepest sympathy. W J McKnight (Sec.)
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 4th November 1944:
|
|
| JEFFERS – In loving memory of our dear son, Fusilier Alexander Jeffers, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was killed in action in the Central Mediterranean on 3rd November 1943, and was buried in Sangro River Cemetery, Italy.
|
|
‘His stay with us on earth was short,
|
|
And oh we miss him sore;
|
|
It makes our hearts overflow with grief,
|
|
To think he is no more.’
|
| Ever remembered by his loving father, mother, brother and sister, Main Street, Coagh.
|
| 1945
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 3rd November 1945: Roll of Honour
|
|
| JEFFERS – In loving memory of our dear son, Sandy, who was killed in action on 3rd November 1943 in the Central Mediterranean, and was buried in Sangro River Cemetery, Italy.
|
|
‘Far away from his native land
|
|
With a simple cross at his head
|
|
He fought and died for Britain
|
|
One of God’s honoured dead.
|
|
Sleep oh dear Sandy, as the days roll by
|
|
No flowers can we lay on the grave where you lie
|
|
For the broad wide ocean keeps us apart
|
|
But your smiling face is always in our heart.’
|
| Still sadly missed by his loving father, mother, brother and sister, Main Street, Coagh.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 3rd November 1945: Roll of Honour
|
|
| JEFFERS – In loving memory of Private Alexander Jeffers, British Expeditionary Force, killed in action in Central Mediterranean on 3rd November 1943 and was buried in Sangro River Cemetery, Italy.
|
| Always remembered by his aunt and cousin. Derrychrin, Ballinderry Bridge, Coagh.
|
|
‘We do not forget, no not for a day
|
|
We speak of you often, although passed away
|
|
You cannot return, so tears are in vain
|
|
But in heaven we hope to meet you again.’
|
| Post War
|
| The following was placed in the local paper the following year:
|
| In loving memory of our dear son, Sandy, who was killed in action on 3rd November, in the central Mediterranean, and was buried in the Sangro River Cemetery Italy.
|
|
'Far away from his native land,
|
|
With a simple cross at his head:
|
|
He fought and died for Britain,
|
|
One of God’s honoured dead.
|
|
Sleep on dear Sandy, as the days roll by;
|
|
No flowers can we lay on the grave where you die;
|
|
For the broad wide ocean keeps us apart,
|
|
But your smiling face is ever in our heart.'
|
| Still sadly missed by his loving father, mother, brother and sister, Main Street, Coagh
|
| Memorials
|
| Fusilier Alexander Jeffers is buried at Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy. His inscription reads: ‘HIS MEMORY IS WRITTEN IN TEARS OF LOVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE AT HOME’
|
|
| The site of this cemetery was selected by the 5th Corps. The graves of men who had died in the fierce fighting on the Adriatic sector of the front in November-December 1943, and during the static period that followed were brought here. In addition, the cemetery contains the graves of a number of escaped prisoners of war who died while trying to reach the Allied lines. SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY contains 2,617 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
|
| Alexander (Sandy) Jeffers in commemorated locally on Coagh War Memorial and also commemorated on the family headstone at Old Eglish Cemetery, Ballinderry Bridge.
|
| The CWGC record Fusilier Alexander Jeffers as the son of Alexander and Annie Jeffers, of Coagh, County Tyrone.
|
|
