Alexander served with the 78th Highland Regiment in India, where he took part in the Battle of Assaye in 1803 and in several other engagements. He was present at the capture of Java in 1811.
Family oral tradition (from Alexander's great-grandson Dave McRae via his son John McD. McRae) brings us an image of Alexander as a robust military man, a true-to-type descendant of the Brave MacRas. Physically he was so large that "two ordinary men standing side by side could put on his greatcoat and do up all the buttons." Captured by the French before the Battle of Waterloo, he subdued his two guards by force--by "banging their heads together"--and escaped in time to take part in the battle.
In 1815 Alexander retired from the army "after twenty-five years of faithful, zealous, and gallant good conduct" according to his commanding officer, to settle in Kirkton, Lochalsh. In 1818 he married Elizabeth MacKenzie (b.1790), daughter of the fifth laird of Cleanwaters and by that token a lady of high social standing with familial links to the Kings of Scotland. The couple had six children:
Alexander (1819—1899) m.1850 Jean (also called Jane) MacDonald (1825—1866).
Donald (1820—1891).
Jane b.1821 m.1848 Robert Forbes.
David b.1823 (emigrated to Australia).
Christina b.1824 m.1850 Alexander MacIntosh.
Charles (1831—1885).
Continue reading: 1.2 First Foothold in Australia
Previous Topics1. Ian McRae (1904-1975) Background and Youth (-1929)
1.1 Scottish Origins
1.1.3 Restless feet1.2 First Foothold in Australia
This Topic1.1.4 Quartermaster Sergeant Alexander McRae (1771-1855)
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