McAlpine was born in Newarthill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, and left school at the age of 10 to work in a coal mine, but became an apprentice bricklayer.
McAlpine was born in Newarthill at the age of 10. This was to work in a coal mine. McAlpine was born in North Lanarkshire at the age of 10. This was to work in a coal mine. McAlpine was born in Scotland at the age of 10. This was to work in a coal mine. McAlpine was born in left school at the age of 10. This was to work in a coal mine. McAlpine became an apprentice bricklayer.