Christopher James Alexander

Alexander was born on 24 March 1887 in Croydon, England, and was educated at Bootham School,[2] York and the South Eastern Agricultural College, Wye.

In 1909, after devoting some time to mycological work in England, Alexander left for Rome to take up a post as redacteur at the International Institute of Agriculture, where he stayed until 1916.

Even at war in Flanders, he still made detailed records; observing the birds throughout autumn and winter and in The Somme in July.

He was often rewarded by the sight of a green sandpiper in a flooded trench or a great grey shrike on the battlefield[4] One night in 1917, while on sentry duty, Alexander broke his leg.

"[4] It was typical of him that it was only after he died that his family learnt that in one of the battles in which he took part he had captured a German prisoner and shared his last biscuit and water with him.