Trafford

Born at Buckie, Banffshire, Scotland on the 5th October 1897, the eldest
son of William & Jane Roy, 11 Gordonsburgh, Buckie, but on the 18th October
1928, aboard the R.M.S. Athenia, together with their teenage children -
Christina and John, they travelled to Montreal, Canada where they settled
and resided at Atlas Avenue, Toronto, Canada.  Alexander's other brother -
William Roy, remained in Scotland and also qualified as a Doctor.  During
WW2 he served as a Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders.

His father was a sailmaker, and continued that trade in Canada.  Dr. Roy
attended Buckie High School and was Dux Medallist there in 1915.   He
graduated with a M.B., Ch.B. at Aberdeen University in 1924, having broken
off his studies to serve with the Royal Scots during WW1   He began his
career in Manchester as assistant to Dr. Peter Reid, who later moved to a
practice at East Church Street, Buckie.  Dr. Roy acquired his practice
shortly after and had been residing at Manchester since his marriage.  Dr.
Reid was to lose his only two sons during WW2.

During the June quarter 1925 in the Barton on Irwell R.D. - ref: 8c/1487,
he married - Christina Cooper, whose family home was 24 Belmont Road,
Aberdeen.    They resided at 71 St. John's Road, Old Trafford.

1939 National Registration - 71 St. Johns Road , Stretford.   Alexander Roy
- Married - born: 5th October 1897 - occ: Medical Practitioner.  His
notations state that he was an M.O. at a Mobile First Aid Unit at Yew Tree
School, Manchester, also that he was a lecturer and examiner for the St.
John's First Aid organisation.   Christina Roy - Married - born: 19th
February 1903 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.   William A. Roy - born: 11th
January 1935.   Lily Hislop - Single - born: 28th December 1906 - occ: Paid
Domestic Servant.

He was a keen golfer and latterly played at the Reddish Vale Golf Club.  Of
an affable disposition, Dr. Roy was a popular lecturer in police, railway,
and St. John's Ambulance classes.

The Doctor's house was demolished in the raid but fortunately their
children - Sheila & William were in the shelter and escaped injury. After
that, they moved to Gloucester to live with an aunt - Mrs. Anderson.   

Commemorated in the Stretford WW2 Memorial Book as having been killed on
the 14th March 1941 ???  [Wrong date!]   Back in Scotland, he is
commemorated on the Buckie North Church War Memorial.

He is also commemorated on the University of Aberdeen Roll of
Honour..........BIOGRAPHY: Son of William Roy; born Buckie, 5 October 1897.
Arts, 1915- (MB, ChB 1924). Private, 3rd Royal Scots, 27 November 1915;
1/10th Royal Scots. Served-Ireland, 3 years 2 months. Final rank, Lance
Corporal.  Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough
Allardyce. Published 1921.  He is also recorded in the University of
Aberdeen's - Roll of Graduates 1901-1925, and Supplement to the Roll of
Graduates 1926-1955.

I am indebted to David Fowler resident of Buckie who kindly sent be much of
the above information, plus transcripts of the local (Buckie) Banffshire
Advertiser newspaper reports from their 2nd January 1941 edition, plus
other Memoriam inclusions.

Death registered in Manchester City.   Listed on the Manchester (Southern)
Cemetery - Civilian Memorial.

CWGC - Medical Officer in Charge, F.A.P. (Mobile); of 71 St. John's Road,
Old Trafford. Husband of Christina Roy.   Died at Dr. Rhodes Home,
Cavendish Road, Withington.

The Dr Rhodes Memorial Home was a reception home for 150 children.  It was
erected in 1910 on Cavendish Road, Withington, a little way to the
north-east of Withington workhouse.   See Peter Higginbotham's superb
website:- http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Chorlton/

I am obliged to Sheila Turton for sharing with us the following
Information:-

"My late parents Clara and Norman Ryder lived in St Johns Road, Old
Trafford [number 23, I think], which was also where my elder sister and
brother were born.  My parents were very close friends of Dr Roy and his
wife and children.  Dr Roy's wife Christina [also Scottish] was
affectionately known as Poppy - Auntie Poppy to myself and siblings.   In
retrospect maybe she had that name from the vivid red lipstick she used to
wear, which I used to look upon in awe at as a small child.  It was the
first time I had ever seen a mosaic floor which they had in the entrance
hall of their house.  The Roy's had two children Sheila and William
[Billy].  I was named after Sheila Roy.   My Mother was asked to identify
Dr. Roy's body because he was so badly blown up, she could only identify
him through the colour of his red hair.  She was then asked to go and break
the terrible news to Poppy.

As far as I remember, Mum telling me about the awful tragedy, was that Dr.
Roy had been called to a patient and it was the explosion that killed him
from a double decker bus that was bombed leaving a huge crater in the road
in Old Trafford.  That dreadful moment of having to tell her dear friend
Poppy haunted my Mum 'till the day she died.

After my parents had fled war-torn Manchester and moved to Halifax in
Yorkshire [where I was born], Billy Roy used to come and stay with us for
holidays.  His and his Mum's ambition, was to become a Doctor like his
Father, but he failed his Latin.  Nevertheless, he became a very successful
businessman, working all over the world for a pharmaceutical company.  He
never ever forgot my parent’s kindness to him and his Mother.  For my
late Mum's 80th birthday in 1985 he sent 80 orchids from South Africa.  
She had quite a collection of post cards from him from many countries.  
Billy married and had two children and finally settled in either Australia
or Japan. 

His sister Sheila was very successful in banking and married quite late in
life.  Over the years we lost touch after Mum and Dad had died.  Sheila
would be in her eighties now and Billy in his late seventies.  Their Father
would have been very proud of them as they were of him."