At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he immediately volunteered to join the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) as an officer cadet. He was gazetted as a Lieutenant on probation in September 1914 and posted to France. He was made full Lieutenant in July 1915 and by the beginning of 1918 had achieved the rank of acting Major. He was demobbed in 1919 having been awarded the Victory Medal and 1916 Star.

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he immediately volunteered to join the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) as an officer cadet. He was gazetted as a Lieutenant on probation in September 1914 and posted to France. He was made full Lieutenant in July 1915 and by the beginning of 1918 had achieved the rank of acting Major. He was demobbed in 1919 having been awarded the Victory Medal and 1916 Star.

During this time he married Marguerite Norah Pasteur (b. 1893, d. 1962), the wedding taking place at St Andrews Marylebone, London, on June 4 1917. They had three children:

The first child, Raymond Pasteur Alderson, b 1918 London, died in Libya in 1942 whilst serving with the Friends Ambulance Unit attached to the Free French Army.

The second son – John Jeffrey Alderson b 1921 Warwickshire d. 1933 Warwickshire (age 12).

Their third son, Jeffrey Gerald Alderson b. 7 June 1934 in Leamington Spa.

The family moved to Warwickshire in 1920, firstly to Leamington when Gerald became a surgeon at Warneford Hospital, later moving to Dudley House, Kenilworth, before settling at The Cottage in the village of Offchurch where they were active members of the Parish Church.

He was a gynaecologist at three local hospitals: Warneford in Leamington, Warwick and Shipston-on-Stour, and with a private surgical nursing home, Priors Nursing Home on Lillington Road, which had a high reputation with many local GPs referring a wide range of their surgery cases to him.

During the Second World War he was appointed Group Officer in the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Medical Service for Coventry, providing advice and guidance for those involved in emergency first aid and casualty management.
As a member of the Guild of Plumbers he was made a Freeman of the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, an honour since bestowed on his son Jeffery and his granddaughter Georgia.

His masonic career began in 1920 when he was initiated into Shakespeare Lodge, No 285, remaining a subscribing member until his death. He was appointed Junior Deacon in 1923, Senior Deacon in 1924 and installed as Master in 1927.

He was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Warwickshire in 1942 – a post held until 1955 – being appointed Past Grand Deacon of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1947.

His other notable public office was as Hon. Sec. of the North Warwickshire Hunt and he died whilst riding with the hunt at Austy Wood near Henley-in-Arden on 28th October 1961, aged 77.
An active member of the Board of Directors of the Masonic Rooms, (then at 3 High Street), he was one of the prime investigator amongst the Board in purchasing 23 High Street for the use of Warwickshire Freemasons, now known as Alderson House in his honour.

Compiled and written by Frank N Collier
Archivist: Alderson House.
Grateful thanks are extended to the Museums and Archives Section, The Royal College of Surgeons of England and Bro. David Baynham, Museum Assistant, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Royal Warwickshire) in compiling this biography.