Edward George McGill Alexander (born 31 March 1947) is a former South African Army officer.
Alexander has participated in airborne exercises and conferences with the British Army, and has jumped with and been awarded parachute wings by the Chilean, British and ROC (Taiwan) Armies. He has written many articles on military topics, some of which have been published internationally, including one by the US Army. He has also authored or co-authored three books. A frequent speaker at symposia and conferences on military matters, General Alexander delivered the 2006 Turner Lecture at the SA Military Academy and in the same year delivered a paper at a Military History Conference on Small Wars and Insurgencies in Canberra, Australia. Besides the degree from the University of Stellenbosch, he holds an Honours BA, an MA (cum laude) and a PhD in history from the University of South Africa.
Early life
General McGill Alexander was born on 31 March 1947 in Boksburg. He grew up on farms in the Free State and Rhodesia, went to boarding school and matriculated from the Potchefstroom High School for Boys in 1965.
Early military career
He trained guide-dogs for the blind for 18 months before volunteering for military service and underwent basic training with 1 SA Infantry Battalion in Oudtshoorn in 1967. He then volunteered for the paratroops and was awarded his parachute wings at Tempe, Bloemfontein in February 1968. He served as a rifleman in B-Company, 1 Parachute Battalion and after completing his training he continued his service in the Citizen Force with 1 Parachute Battalion. He was promoted to corporal and served as a section leader.
Later, he was recommended for officer's training and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the newly established 2 Parachute Battalion in July 1972. Having completed the platoon commanders and company courses at the Infantry School, Oudtshoorn, he served in those capacities in 2 Parachute Battalion. During this time, in his civilian capacity, he ran outdoor pursuit courses for the South African Exploration Society. In 1975 he joined the Permanent Force and was appointed as an Officer Instructor at 1 Parachute Battalion with the rank of lieutenant, again serving as a company second-in-command.
Sent to the Military Academy in Saldanha, Lt Alexander graduated with a degree from Stellenbosch University in 1978, serving operationally with 2 Parachute Battalion as a platoon commander in Namibia during the university recess. He returned to 1 Parachute Battalion, where he served for several years in various posts, including as adjutant, company commander (principally of his old company, B-Company), SO2 Training and Training Wing 2IC. During this time he was promoted to captain in 1979 and to major in 1982.
Operations
He participated in operations in Angola and Namibia and in 1980 he was awarded the Military Merit Medal for his role in leading a successful helicopter assault on Chitado in Angola.
He participated in operations with 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group in Angola and Namibia and also briefly commanded Battle Group Phantom, a temporarily constituted grouping, during counter-insurgency operations in Namibia.
Military courses
Between his operational and training duties he qualified as a parachute dispatcher, a parachute instructor and a tactical free-fall parachutist.
Foreign training included completing a pathfinder course with the Israeli paratroops in 1980, and a Special Forces course with the Chilean Army Commandos in 1981. For the latter he had to first learn Spanish.
He underwent the requisite courses at the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn, including counter-insurgency, battalion mortars, battalion anti-tank and company as well as battalion battle-handling. In addition, he attended the Combat Team and Battle Group courses at the Army Battle School (South Africa) in Lohatlha, which included Intelligence Courses at the Intelligence School in Kimberley, an Advanced Counter-insurgency Course at the Danie Theron Combat School in Kimberley and Personnel and Logistics Courses in Pretoria. During exercises at Lohatlha he commanded a mechanised battle group.