Alexander Hazel DCM

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

4586

Unit at enlistment:

Royal Army Medical Corps

Force:

B.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Prisoner of war:

Yes

Awards or decorations:

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Commemorated at:

First Baptist Church

Birth country:

England

Address at enlistment:

62-4 Market Street, Bodega Hotel, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Caretaker

Employer:

Bodega Tavern

Religious denominations:

Baptist

Marital status:

Married

Gallantry medals:

Yes

Letters and documents

London Gazette: 29802
Date: October 24, 1916
Honour or Award: Distinguished Conduct Medal
Name: Alexander Hazel (4586)
Unit: Royal Army Medical Corps

Details: For devotion to duty and eminent services rendered by them when prisoners of war, during epidemics of Cholera and Typhus Fever, at the Prisoners of War Camps in Gottingen and Ohrdruf, respectively.

BX November 14, 1916

Private Alexander Hazel is Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal – For Heroic Work in German War Camps During Epidemics – Was With Royal Army Medical Corps

That devotion to duty does not end when taken prisoner has been proven by Alexander Hazel, a British reservist who left Brantford with the group of reservists on August 18. He was with the R.A.M.C., and re-joined that body in England.

He was taken prisoner by the Germans, but in the German prison camp he rendered heroic service. This is shown by the official announcement that he Distinguished Conduct Medal has been awarded to non-commissioned officers and men of the No. 22 Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., in recognition of their great devotion to duty and eminent services rendered by them when prisoners of war, during epidemics of cholera and typhus fever at the prison of war camp in Gottingen, Germany. He was one of the six men so honored by the British War Office.

Some time ago Private Hazel was released from Germany, as a non-combatant, and he is again in France, carrying out his duties in looking after the wounded in the firing line.

Before leaving for the war, Private Hazel was day clerk at the Bodega Tavern here. He was married just before he left the city, his wife being Miss Agnes Robertson. She is now residing in Scotland.

His three brothers, Charles, Henry and Sidney, reside in this city. They received the news this morning that their brother had received the D.C.M., and were highly elated.

BX November 24, 1914

Detained But Quite Happy – Alexander Hazel Says He is Not Suffering at the Hands of the Germans

Verification of the announcement that Alexander Hazel of this city, a reservist of the Royal Army Medical Corps had been taken prisoner by the Germans has been received by James Hazel, his father, in a short letter from Pte. J.T. Austin a fellow worker of Alex Hazel, they being in the same corps.

The letter, denuded of personal notes, is as follows:

No. 1334 Pte. J.T. Austin
C. Sec., 22nd Field Ambulance
7th Division, R.A.M.C.,
Expeditionary Force

Mr. Hazel,

Dear Sir,

Having the pleasure of knowing your son Alex, I take liberty in first dropping you a few lines on his behalf hoping they find you in the best of health, as they leave us. I may say that you may not hear from him for the duration of the war, as he has been taken into the hands of the enemy, and will be quite alright as far as we know, so you will not have to worry, about not hearing from him. I hope that you will inform his wife, Mrs. Hazel. I had the pleasure of meeting Alex at Quebec on my way to the front, and we have been together since, up to the time of his capture, so I thought it my duty to let you know.

J.T. Austin

Word was previously received, however, by Mrs. Hazel, in a letter from her husband at the detention camp at Gotten, Germany.

Mr. Hazel has also received a short letter from his son, dated from Gotten Camp, Germany, where he is a prisoner saying that he is being well treated and has no cause for complaint other than that he is cut off from his friends.

BX July 13, 1915

Alexander Hazel Again in England – Was Captured and Held a Prisoner in Germany For 10 Months

James Hazel, of the Bodega Tavern, this morning received a postcard from his brother, Pte. Alexander Hazel, announcing that he had returned to England after being held in a prisoner of war camp in Germany for the last ten months. It will be recalled that Pte. Hazel, who is a British reservist, left Brantford at the outbreak of the war and went into active service with the Royal Army Medical Corps. During the month of October, he was taken prisoner by the Huns, and since that time has been held in one of the military camps in Germany. Pte. Alexander Hazel was included among those sent back to England, where he is now stationed.

BX September 20, 1915

Private J. Smith – A Poetic Tribute to a Fallen Hero, Written by a Brantford Man While a Prisoner

While a prisoner in Gottingen Camp, Germany, Pte. Alex. Hazel, of this city, brother of Chas. Hazel of the Bodega Tavern, and a member of the R.A.M.C., spent some spare moments in writing a recitation, a copy of which has been received here. As written by a British soldier while a prisoner of the Huns, the poem is of interest, aside from its merit as a poem, and for that reason The Expositor herewith reproduces it. Pte. Hazel, it should be remarked, is no longer a prisoner, he having been one of the non-combatants released in an exchange of Red Cross Workers.

March 25, 1915

Prisoners Camp
Gottingen, Germany

John Smith

The scene is a railway station,
With people cheering long and loud,
For here and there are merry soldiers
Mingled with the excited crowd.
The reason for this demonstration
On this memorable summer’s eve,
Is – the boys have been ordered to the front,
And are just about to leave.

Now an engine’s whistle is heard,
The train draws in with a might rush,
And over all this great gathering
Fell a deep, deep silent hush.
No one can distinguish sighting
Female tears begin to flow,
Although they all try to be brave,
For they know their boys must go.

With a last handshake, and parting kiss.
The soldiers board the train,
And as it leaves each one wonders
When they’ll meet their friends again
From a railway station the scene is changed.
To where grim deeds are done,
It is that of a battle field,
Where victories are won.

Now the shot and shell are screaming.
Each side for the victory strives,
Too eager to think of the loss of lives
And there in one of the trenches,
Stands a lad, John Smith by name
He is one of the able defenders
Of his country’s worldwide fame.

Then suddenly a shout is heard,
“Who’ll go for water?” is the cry,
But the reply is drowned by the roar of cannon
As they send their messages for men to die.
After this there came a lull
Then the sound of a voice nearby
“I will bring the water,” says Smith
“Well, at least I’ll have a try.”

Smith climbed warily from the trench
And started on his way,
“Bravo! Smith” his captain said,
“You’re the best lad of the day.”
Smith reached the spring in safety
And with his load he started back
In each hand a pail of water
His comrades thirst to slack.

He’d nearly reached the mouth of the trench,
When crack! A rifle spat its lead,
Smith staggered, then he fell,
And his comrades thought him dead.
They drew him slowly into the trench
Feebly breathing, that was all,
And all felt sad for thy knew poor Smith
Would soon answer the Greater Call.

Smith then opened his eyes
His lips moved and he said,
“My Mother,” then fell back,
Alas! Poor Smith was dead.
And alone in a country cottage,
A woman knelt down to pray,
She was praying for her only son
Who for his comrades, died that day.

A. Hazel

BX November 18, 1914

Brantford Man Held As Prisoner of War – Was a British Reservist – Mrs. Alexander Hazel Receives Word That Her Husband is in Hands of the Enemy – Captured While Assisting to Remove Wounded from Battlefield

The first Brantford man to be captured by the Germans is Alexander Hazel, a reservist of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who has written to his wife here at the Imperial Hotel, that he is held a prisoner at Gotten, Hanover Germany.

Hazel left here on August 18, so that it is exactly three months today since he went away. He was among the 18 who were given a send-off by the citizens on August 18, having been married the previous day.

The first intimation that Mrs. Hazel had of his being at the front was contained in a postcard of the official type, received by Mrs. Hazel about four weeks ago. This was followed by another card, both stating that he was well, this being received a week after. Two weeks after that she received a letter from a point in France, in which he stated that he was still well, and that there had been very hard fighting.

The letter received yesterday was a surprise to Mrs. Hazel. It stated that Hazel was a prisoner of the Germans at Gotten, Hanover, having been captured by the Germans while searching the battlefield at night for wounded men. He had been transferred for safe keeping to Gotten, where the prisoners were being kindly treated by the Germans, being well looked after in every way. He was at the time in good health, and he expressed the hope that Mrs. Hazel would not worry.

Mrs. Hazel stated that this was the first intimation she had had that her husband had been captured. She had been promised by the government, in response to a letter she had written, that she would be notified in case he was wounded, killed or taken prisoner, but no such word was received when her husband was captured. She pointed out, however, that there was another Alexander Hazel in the same corps, so that they may have become mixed.

Mrs. Hazel last evening sent a letter to her husband, asking him if it would be of any use to send him money, which he would likely need in his present position.