The Scottish War Memorials Project

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:13 pm Post subject: DUNDEE CITY POLICE

Situated in West Bell Street, Dundee next to the Sheriff Courthouse.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject:

The following casualty is on the Blairgowrie & Rattray War Memorial;

Name: EGGIE
Initials: E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 17/05/1918
Service No: 13709
Awards: MM
Additional information: Son of William Eggie, of Old Rattray, Blairgowrie, Perthshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 30.
Cemetery: BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT

I got a picture of Edward Eggie from the police historian, ex-Sergeant Willie McFarlane. Willie believes he could supply pics of all the Great War dead for Dundee and probably lay hands on those from WW2 also.

Unfortunately there is nothing similar for the old Forfarshire and Perthshire Constabularies. Willie came up with six names for the Perthshire County Constabulary and we have one for Perth City. Nothing is known of those from Forfarshire.

Willie did mention that one name was added recently and I came up with this;

Name: STIRRAT, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 24
Date of Death: 05/05/1941
Additional information: Police Constable; of 3 Boyd Place, Broughty Ferry. Died at Royal Infirmary.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: DUNDEE CITY, SCOTLAND

Unfortunately this particular story is not known to me.

I also noticed that a good few from WW1 were Scots Guards which stands to reason.

spoons · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject:

I had a brief spell at RHQ Scots Guards in the mid '70s and for Guardsmen leaving the service, the Metropolitan police and City of London police were very popular next occupations.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject:

As so often happens a coincidence occurred during my leave period and a short piece on Robert Stirrat appeared in the staff newsletter.
I read it on my return this morning and have posted a photograph and the salient points from the article. I think this is how he'd like to have been remembered;
DOWN MEMORY LANE
REMEMBERING PC 108 ROBERT STIRRAT

Born on 2nd January 1917, ‘Bob’ was originally from Kilmaurs, Ayrshire but grew up in Coatbridge. He was a student for a time then joined Dundee City Police on 14th January 1937 and was confirmed on 6th April 1938. Bob’s record shows that he was a promising athlete, competing as a runner at many police sports events.
Bob was married to Kathleen and they lived together at 3 Boyd Place, Broughty Ferry. Unfortunately Bob and ‘Kathy’ had already suffered tragedy in their lives. Their son, Robert, died in February 1941, aged just 3 months, due to complications following his premature birth, and Bob’s father (also Robert) had died in 1919 from severe wounds he sustained during the Great War whilst serving with the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
On Monday 5th May 1941 Bob began his shift at Broughty Ferry Police Office, and a short time later was called to investigate a report of an ‘unfamiliar object’ in the water at Fisher Street. On arrival he found the object to be a mine, and knowing the extreme danger posed to the troops and shipping, he attempted to secure it in order to prevent it drifting back out to sea. Suddenly, and without warning, the mine exploded, blowing off Bob’s right arm and both legs below the knee. Bob was rushed to the hospital, fatally wounded, and died aged just 24 in Dundee Royal Infirmary at 3.16 pm that afternoon.
Bob’s name appears on the Dundee City Police War Memorial, Tayside Police and National Police Officers Roll of Honour and commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject:

I think this will be Bob's father;

Name: STIRRAT, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers
Age: 33
Date of Death: 06/08/1919
Service No: 201755
Additional information: Husband of Agnes Fleming Brown (formerly Stirrat), of 44, Dunbeth Rd., Coatbridge.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: East Extension. 148.
Cemetery: KILMAURS PARISH CHURCHYARD

I see he is buried at Kilmaurs and that a Robert Stirrat Pte Royal Scots Fusiliers is commemorated on the Stewarton War Memorial. I'm sure this will be him?