The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

del1701 · Joined: 06 Nov 2014 Posts: 3

Good morning, does anyone have a list of police casualties from Greenock Burgh Police? I have tried in vain to locate details of a memorial.
In particular I am trying to identify W. Kinnison who was reported in the Scotsman on the 4th January 1915 as killed in action with the Black Watch. I am unable to find any death record for him or to confirm his membership of the Burgh Police.
Any help locating details of the Greenock Police fallen would be very much appreciated.

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:38 am Post subject:

Welcome to the group. I don't know if we have any Renfrewshire experts here but hopefully someone may have information for you.

Kind regards

Adam

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:45 pm Post subject:

The Dundee Courier of 4 January 1915 p.4 has:
PITLOCHRY MAN KILLED AT THE FRONT. Information been received at Pitlochrv that Private W. Kinnison, Ist Black Watch, has been killed action. He and chum were on outpost duty, and had taken refuge behind a haystack, when a shell burst, killing Private Kinnison outright. Private Kiunison, who was about 34 years of age, served seven years with the Colours, and was the reserve when he was called up. He served through the South African War and was award the King's Medal and clasps. For a period after his discharge from the army he was member of the police force in Greenock. He was unmarried.

So this man might be worth a look
PRIVATE
WILLIAM CUNNISON
Service Number: 3/2165 [indicates a reservist]
1st Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Died 04 October 1914
LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL, France.

In 1881 William Cunnison aged 2 (born c.1879 in Stirling) was living with his grandparents Peter and Margaret Cunnison in Moulin Parish, Perthshire. [The parish for Pitlochry]
Dwelling: Inverness Road
Peter CUNNISON Head M 66 M Hostler Kirkmichael, Perth, Scotland
Dwelling: Inverness Road
Margaret CUNNISON Wife M 66 F Blair Athole, Perth, Scotland
Dwelling: Inverness Road
Margaret CUNNISON Daur U 25 F Kirkmichael, Perth, Scotland
Dwelling: Inverness Road
Janet CUNNISON Grand Daur 7 F Scholar Loggie, Stirling, Scotland
Dwelling: Inverness Road
William CUNNISON Grand Son 2 M Stirling, Scotland

Scotlandspeople:
William Anderson Cunnison b.1878 Stirling
Aged 36 at death (Service return)

On 20 June 1896 a William Cunnison, 18, b.1878 in Logie Stirling enlisted in the Black Watch at Perth. There are two service no.s 6446 and 6052 but the records are on Fold3
_________________
Ken

del1701 · Joined: 06 Nov 2014 Posts: 3

Thank you, Cunnison would certainly fit well with the details I had. Frustratingly thought I still can't link him with the Greenock Burgh Police. I'm hoping that there is still a memorial somewhere with Greenock police station that will confirm the names of those lost.

del1701 · Joined: 06 Nov 2014 Posts: 3

From a little digging it would appear that fallen police officers from Greenock did not have their own memorial, their names are included on the Greenock Corporation memorial.

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 8:29 am Post subject:

Thanks for the clarification.

Regards

Adam