Bill Alexander (politician)
William Alexander (13 June 1910 – 11 July 2000) was a British communist activist known for his involvement in the Spanish Civil War.
Born in Ringwood in Hampshire, Alexander studied at the University of Reading, then became an industrial chemist and joined the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). He was a prominent anti-fascist activist and was present at the Battle of Cable Street.
In 1937, Alexander volunteered to join the British Battalion of the International Brigades to aid the Republic in the Spanish Civil War. He arrived shortly after the Battle of Jarama, and joined an anti-tank battery, soon becoming its political commissar, and received a citation for bravery at Belchite. For the Battle of Teruel the following year, he was made a captain and commander of the whole British force, but he was wounded and invalided back to the UK in June.
Back in Britain, Alexander was made the CPGB's Merseyside Area secretary. He attempted to join the Sandhurst Military Academy early in World War II, initially being refused a place on account of his CPGB membership, but his case was taken up by the Duchess of Atholl and he was eventually permitted to attend, and graduated as the top cadet. He served in Africa and Europe, and was eventually made a captain.