Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Oct 21/02) - Gordon Alexander answers a lot of questions from his mates in the British army.

That's because he's from Hay River and they're curious about Canada's North.

Gordon Alexander of Hay River is currently serving in the British army. - photo courtesy of David and Lilia Alexander

Alexander says some of the common questions are: Do you have roads? There's life up there? Are you part Eskimo? What are you doing over here?

But the most common one is, "Why the British army and not the Canadian army?"

Actually, he twice unsuccessfully applied to the Canadian Armed Forces before joining the British military in April of last year.

Alexander now has the rank of trooper in the Scots Dragoon Guards, in which he drives a tank. The 23-year-old is currently stationed at a base in Germany.

While there are other Canadians in the British military, he says, "I'm the only one from the Northwest Territories."

His nickname is 'Cannook,' he adds. "Mostly everybody calls me that and I don't mind."

Alexander says anybody from a Commonwealth country can apply to join the British military. Although he was born in the Philippines, he has dual Canadian and British citizenship, since his father was born in Scotland.

Alexander lived for over 13 years in Hay River, and says he considers the town his home.

His father, David, says he and his wife, Lilia, are happy their son is doing well in the British forces.

"We're proud as hell," says David Alexander, noting his son always wanted to join the military.

The younger Alexander was a member of the Hay River Army Cadet Corps for seven years and rose to the rank of regimental sergeant major.

"It wasn't 'til I was in the cadets in Hay River that I decided to join the army," he says in an e-mail interview from Germany.

Peter Osted, the commanding officer of the Hay River Army Cadet Corps, says Alexander is the first former member to join the British military.

"I think everybody was excited and pleased about it," Osted says.

Alexander is not sure about making the military a life-long career.

"But my aim for now would be to survive for at least 12 years in the army. Even if I made it to seven or 10 years, I'd be happy."

When he does retire from the military, his dream is to spend the rest of his life in Germany, which he says he loves.