He was educated at the
Edinburgh Academy, and joined the
Royal Marines in 1944. Alexander served in the East Indies Fleet, and with
45 Commando, and in
Malaya,
Malta, and the
Suez Canal Zone in 1951–1954. From 1954 to 1957 he was Parade
Adjutant,
RM Lympstone. He was then
Equerry and acting
Treasurer to the
Duke of Edinburgh 1957–1960. He attended the
Royal Naval Staff College in 1960, and then was on the Directing Staff of the
Staff College, Camberley 1962–1965. He was second in command of 45 Commando, in
Aden, 1965–1966. In 1966–1969 he was on the staff of the
Chief of the Defence Staff, including service with the
Secretary of State. In 1969–1970 he was in command of
40 Commando, in
Singapore, and from 1970 to 1973 Colonel General Staff to the
Commandant General Royal Marines. After attending the
Royal College of Defence Studies in 1974 he was promoted to major general and served as Commander Training Group Royal Marines 1975–1977. Alexander retired from the
Royal Marines in 1977, and was
Director-General of the
English-Speaking Union 1977–1979, and
Commandant of the
Scottish Police College 1979–1987. Alexander was made a
Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1976. He died on 5 January 2017 at the age of 90. ==References==