Edinburgh City Police - Detective Sergeant No. 5 Alexander Gilbert  1891 - 1923

Edinburgh City Police

Detective Sergeant Alexander Gilbert

King Edward VII Police Medal (Scotland) 1903

King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal 1911

The Early Years

Alexander Gilbert was born on 28 August 1868 in Little Lynturk, in the Parish of Leochel and Cushnie, near Alford in the County of Aberdeen. His parents were James Gilbert, a Farmer, and Mary Murray or Gilbert. His parents were married in Coull in December 1858. [i]

Census of Scotland 1871

The following were living at Little Lynturk, Alford, on the night of the Census of Scotland 1871.[ii]

Census of Scotland 1881

The following were living at Little Lynturk, Alford, on the night of the Census of Scotland 1881.[iii]

Census of Scotland 1891

Among the seven people living with Farmer James Reid, (65), at Greystone Farm, Alford, Aberdeenshire on the night of the Census 1891 was the following.[iv]

The farm life apparently did not suit the young Alexander Gilbert as the following month, he joined Edinburgh City Police.

Edinburgh City Police Weekly Records 1891

The weekly Record of Edinburgh City Police dated 19 May 1891 records that Alexander Gilbert, joined the force that day as Police Constable, collar number 19.[i] He was stationed in the Central Division, based at the High Street Headquarters with another police station at the West Port. By 1897, he had been transferred to detective duties with the Criminal Investigation Department, still based in the Central Division.[ii]

Register of Marriages in the District of St Andrew in the Burgh of Edinburgh 1897

On the 16th December 1897, at the Albion Halls, Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, after Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland, Alexander Gilbert, (29), a Detective Constable of 16 Drumdryan Street, Edinburgh, married Annie Irvine, (24), a Domestic Servant of 34 Dick Place, Edinburgh.

The witnesses were Hugh McDiarmid and Mary Irvine and the ceremony was performed by the Reverend Thomas Nicol DD, Kirk of Tolbooth.

Alexander’s parents were James Gilbert, Farmer and Mary Murray or Gilbert, (Deceased). Annie’s parents were John Irvine, a Fisherman and Grace Saunders or Irvine, (Deceased).[iii]

Register of Births in the District of St Andrew in the Burgh of Edinburgh 1898

James Gilbert was born on 7 June 1898 at 7 Collins Place, Edinburgh. His father was Alexander Gilbert, a Police Constable and his mother, Annie Irvine or Gilbert. His father registered his birth.[iv]

Register of Births in the District of St Andrew in the Burgh of Edinburgh 1901

Alexander Gilbert was born on 26 August 1901 at 7 Collins Place, Edinburgh. His father was Alexander Gilbert, a Police Constable and his mother, Annie Irvine or Gilbert. His father registered his birth.[v]

Royal Visit to Edinburgh King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra 1903

In May 1903, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra visited Edinburgh and took part in several large processions in Edinburgh and Glasgow,  attended by thousands of members of the public. It was a huge effort and Edinburgh City Police needed assistance from other City and County Police forces.  All of the officers of Edinburgh City Police were awarded the King Edward VII Police (Scotland) Medal 1903, including Detective Constable Alexander Gilbert.

Edinburgh City Police Weekly Records 1906

The Edinburgh City Police Weekly Record of 3 July 1906 recorded that ‘Detective Constable No. 19 Alexander Gilbert had been ‘Awarded £1 for smartness shewn in arresting a thief, while off duty’.[vi]

Register of Births in the District of St Andrew in the Burgh of Edinburgh 1906

Margaret Gilbert was born at 7 Collins Place, Edinburgh. Her father was Alexander Gilbert, a Police Constable and her mother, Annie Irvine or Gilbert. Her father registered his birth.[vii]

Edinburgh City Police Weekly Records 1908

The Edinburgh City Police Weekly Record of 5 May 1908 recorded that ‘Detective Constable No. 19 Alexander Gilbert had been ‘Awarded £1 and commended for extraordinary tact and discretion in investigating a case of theft and reset’.[viii]

Edinburgh Evening News 5 May 1908

The following is an excerpt from page 4 of the Edinburgh Evening News dated 5 May 1908. It concerns two runaway horses towing a military waggon between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood. The heading is “SENSATION RACE DOWN THE ROYAL MILE – RUNAWAY FROM THE CASTLE TO HOLYROOD”:

“EXCITING SCENES – This afternoon, one of the most sensational street episodes that has taken place in Edinburgh for years occurred throughout the entire length of the “Royal Mile”, a heavy military waggon,  drawn by two horses, running pell-mell the entire distance from the entrance to Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood with, remarkable to relate, only one accident, and that of a trifling character, immediately attached to the mad flight.

As the runaway took place during the dinner-hour and as on the route, there were many working people, school children and vehicles of various kinds, the escape from disastrous results was marvellous.

TOOK FLIGHT AT THE ONE O’CLOCK GUN – It is understood that the waggon, a military ambulance waggon, had been sent to the Castle to convey a prisoner, who was being tried by Court Martial, to Piershill, and was drawn up at the outer gate when the One O’clock Gun went off. Apparently the waggon was unattended; at all events, the startled horses bolted. The esplanade was clear, and they had got well under way when they reached the narrow neck at Castlehill. Going at a great pace, the runaways tore down into Lawnmarket, where they collided with a horse and cab, injuring the horse and damaging the vehicle. The collision merely served to add to the terror of the runaways and they tore on, coming down to the Bank Street crossing where the dinner-hour crowd was pouring into the street.

DETECTIVE’S PLUCKY EFFORT – At about this point, an attempt was made stop the horse by Detective Alexander Gilbert, who was however, thrown aside, and apparently slightly injured. When the plucky officer fell, the commotion was added to by the shrieking of women, but as quickly as it had happened, as quickly the cause of the excitement swept on. The runaways went down the High Street at a great pace, but fortunately the noise they made acted as the most efficient “clear the causeway” and as happily no vehicle was crossing from North to South Bridge at the moment they had a clear course, continuing their career down the lower part of the High Street.

CLEARING A MANHOLE – Dangers thickened as they neared Jeffrey Street, and increased as they got down the Canongate, where some workmen were engaged in a street opening. An open manhole was screened by a canvas covering, tent fashion, but the horses shied at this, and got clear between the erection and the kerb. Getting down to the foot of the Canongate, they swung to the right and headed for the park gates. By this time, the runaways had lost some of their pace, and Police Constable Grant rushed forward and stopped them. The horses were driven back to the Castle, none the worse for their escapade, while the only damage to the waggon showed was a twisted splashboard.

THE INJURED DETECTIVE – It was at first thought that Detective Gilbert had escaped lightly, but he had to be taken later to the Royal Infirmary, suffering pretty severely. It is believed that he was struck by the centre pole of the waggon, and that when he was thrown aside two wheels passed over him. Mr Gilbert was allowed to go away after examination having sustained nothing more serious than a shock to the system.” [ix]

Edinburgh City Police Weekly Records 1908

The Edinburgh City Police Weekly Record of 19 May 1908 recorded that ‘Detective Constable No. 19 Alexander Gilbert had been ‘Awarded £3 for courageous attempt to stop runaway horses’.[x]

Royal Visit to Edinburgh King George V and Queen Mary 1911

In July 1911, King George V and Queen Mary visited Edinburgh and took part in several large processions in Edinburgh and Glasgow,  attended by thousands of members of the public. It was a huge effort and Edinburgh City Police needed assistance from other City and County Police forces.  All of the officers of Edinburgh City Police were awarded the King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal 1911, including Detective Constable Alexander Gilbert.

Edinburgh City Police Weekly Records 1914

The Edinburgh City Police Weekly Record of 9 June 1914 recorded that ‘Detective Constable No. 19 Alexander Gilbert had been promoted “to 4th Class Detective Sergeant, No 5, @ 39/1d p.w.”. [i]

Edinburgh City Police Weekly Records 1923

The Edinburgh City Police Weekly Record of 9 June 1914 recorded that Detective Sergeant  No. 5 Alexander Gilbert had ‘Retired on the 15th inst. Note. The vacancy caused by the retiral of Sergt. Gilbert cannot be filled, as this Sergeantship was one of those created as a temporary measure with a view to abolishing the rank of Detective Officer.*

*Detective Officer was a rank between Sergeant and Inspector.

The End of the Story

After his retiral, Detective Sergeant Gilbert moved back to Aberdeenshire to a small farm at Kemnay.

Register of Deaths in the District of Kemnay in the County of Aberdeen 1945

Alexander Gilbert, (76), Detective Sergeant (Retired), married to Annie Irvine, died on 19 February 1945 at Carsefield, Kemnay. He was the son of James and Mary Gilbert, both deceased. His daughter, Annie Irvine Gilbert, registered his death. [i]

I have been unable to find any trace of Alexander’s wife Annie after his death.

I am grateful to DS Gilbert's  Great Grand daughter, Margo Johnston for permission to use the images of his presentation Albert and some of the family information.