b. 09/04/1867 Surbiton, Surrey. d. 29/11/1942 Cambridge.
Alexis Charles Doxat (1867-1942) was born in Surbiton, Surrey on 9th April 1867, the son of Edmund Doxat, who originally came from Wood Green Park, Hertfordshire. Alexis was educated at Norwich Grammar School and Philberd’s, Maidenhead. He became a Captain in the Dalston Militia under Colonel Somerset CB, and Lieutenant-Colonel Bowles MP, and he passed the Auxiliary School of Instruction and the Hythe Musketry School.
Alexis C Doxat VC
He then became a member of the Stock Exchange, but he left his post on the outbreak of the Second Boer War to proceed to South Africa with Lord Scarborough’s detachment. He took part in Lord Methuen’s advance from Boshof in May 1900, and in September, joined General Douglas’ Column as personal Aide-de-Camp, acting chiefly as a reconnaissance officer.
On the 20th October, 1900, near Zeerust, Lieutenant Doxat proceeded with a party of Mounted Infantry to reconnoitre a position held by 100 Boers on a ridge of kopjes. When within 300 yards of the position the enemy opened a heavy fire on Lieutenant Doxat’s party, which then retired, leaving one of their number who had lost his horse. Lieutenant Doxat seeing the dangerous position in which the man was placed galloped back under a very heavy fire and brought him on his horse to a place of safety.
Doxat was recommended for, and awarded the VC on 15th January 1901, and was presented with his medal by King Edward VII at Marlborough House, London on 17th December 1901. Soon after his return from South Africa in 1903, he married Emma Collison Mair, a widow, in Hanover Square.
Doxat served in the Great War receiving “Pip, Squeak and Wilfred” (The 1914-15 Star, War Medal and Victory Medal) for his service. Doxat retired to live in Cambridgeshire after the Great War, and he died aged 75, on 29th November 1942 in Cambridge, and was buried in the Newmarket Road Cemetery. His medals were purchased at auction in 1992 by the Ashcroft Trust and displayed in the Ashcroft Gallery, Imperial War Museum.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT GALLERY, IW MUSEUM.
BURIAL PLACE: CITY CEMETERY, CAMBRIDGE.
SECTION AA, GRAVE 8154
Acknowledgement:
Kevin Brazier – Image of Doxat’s VC Grave and Cemetery Plan from Newmarket Road Cemetery, Cambridge.