Sir Alexander Roger 1951. Artist: Henrique Medine (1901-1988).[1]
Alexander Roger was born in Aberdeenshire in 1878 and immigrated to London aged 18, trained as an accountant and embarked upon a business career. In 1914 he organised the Motor Ambulance Department of the British Red Cross and in 1915 volunteered his services to the newly formed Ministry of Munitions. In June 1915 Dr Christopher Addison appointed him to assist General Jackson in organising the business side of the Trench Warfare Department, eventually becoming Director-General of the Trench Warfare (Supply) Department in January 1916. He was knighted in 1917 and after the war became a very successful businessman. Chairman of B.I.C.C. Ltd, 1930-1966, as well as several other British and Overseas Companies. He was very rich and lived at Ewhurst Park, in Hampshire, former home of the Duke of Wellington.[2]
[1] Preston Art Gallery © Knowsley Art & Heritage Service
[2] In 1908 he married Helen Clark, daughter of the Provost of Leith, a charismatic woman and a renowned beauty. They had three sons: Alan, Neil (known as Bunny) and Alexander. They were aesthetes but referred to by Evelyn Waugh as “lesbian tarts and joy boys”. A bit unfair for Barry and Bunny served with distinction in the Second World War. They were fabulously rich, infamous for the homosexual themed parties, but were outstanding connoisseurs and influential collectors of art.