www.scottishpolicemedals.co.uk
www.scottishpolicemedals.co.uk
www.scottishpolicemedals.co.uk
www.scottishpolicemedals.co.uk

Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band

Stewart Gardiner, a former Leading Drummer of the Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band carried out a great deal of research on the history of Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band and its successor, Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band.

 

This extensive work was published on the L& B P force website. With the advent of Police Scotland in April, 2013 and the disappearance of the remaining eight Scottish Police forces, this material was archived at the UK Web Archive run by the British Library.

 

The former Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band pages contain an enormous amount of information on the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band and can be accessed by clicking the link here.

 

Stewart is to be commended for his efforts in recording an important part of Edinburgh Police and Scottish Pipe Band history. Thank you.

Edinburgh City Police Pipers pre-1900

 

Edinburgh City Police Pipers

PM Alexander M. Findlay

1882 – 1889

PM Alexander Hamilton

1889 – 1890

 

List of Pipe-Majors in Edinburgh City Police  1900 - 1975

 

Edinburgh City Police

PM Norman Graham

1900 – 1909

PM Hugh Calder KPM

1909 – 1920

PM Alexander Henderson*

1920 – 1923

PM Alexander Henry*

1923 – 1929

PM William Sutherland*

1929 – 1931

PM Hance T. R. Gates

1931 – 1941

PM Duncan R. Cameron

1941 – 1949

PM Donald Shaw Ramsay BEM

1949 – 1958

PM John D. Burgess

1958 – 1959

PM Iain McLeod

1959 – 1975

 

*PM Henderson sometimes shown as ‘Anderson’.

  PM Henry sometimes shown as ‘Hendry’.

  PM William Sutherland shown as ‘James Sutherland’.

            

List of Pipe-Majors in Lothian & Borders Police 1975 - 2012

 

Lothian & Borders Police

PM Iain McLeod

1975 – 1976

PM Harry McNulty

1976 – 1982

PM Colin Forbes

1982 – 1984

PM George Lumsden

1984 – 1988

PM Duncan Smith

1988 – 1993

PM Leslie Watson

1993 – 1996

PM Kenneth McBride

1996 – 2000

PM Colin R. MacLellan

 2000 – 2004

PM Keith Dawes

2004 – 2007

PM David Barnes

2007 – 2009

PM Ian Duncan

2009 – 2011

PM Neil Hall

2011 – 2012

Edinburgh City Police Pipers 1885 Pipe Major Findlay

Edinburgh City Police Pipers c1885 Pipe Major Alexander M. Findlay is extreme left with 4 upturned chevrons.
Pipe Major Norman Graham & Pipe Sergeant Hugh Calder, Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band between 1904 - 1912.
Medallion awarded to PM Hugh Calder in 1912 for winning the Harry Lauder Shield at Cowal Games, Dunoon.
Rear view of medallion awarded to PM Hugh Calder in 1912 for winning the Harry Lauder Shield at Cowal Games, Dunoon.

Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band 1919 Pipe Major Hugh Calder

Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, Pipe Major Hugh Calder. The drummer on the front row left is possibly PC 281B James Gilchrist. He can be seen in the picture below with his distinctive medals for his service in the 72nd Highlanders, later the 1st Battalio
Edinburgh City Police & St Andrew's Ambulance Corps members at the Scottish International Exhibition, Saughton Park, Edinburgh, May, 1908. James Gilchrist is the man immediately behind Inspector Thomas Redpath.

Standing L –R

 

PS 66 ‘B’ John Blair, PC 88 ‘A’ John Mackie, PC 79’A’ Colin Fraser Brown, PC 343 ‘C’ David Forman, PC 574’D’ William Lockie, PC 473 ‘B’ Alexander Henry, PC 504 ‘D’ William Wares, PS 61 ‘D’ William Thomas Uffendell, PC 580 ‘D’ William Gunn, PC 513 ‘D’ Alexander Latto, PC 281 ‘B’ James Gilchrist, Unknown, PC 270 ‘B’ William Stewart, PS 62 ‘D’ John Archibald, Unknown.

 

Sitting L –R

 

Unknown member of St Andrew’s Ambulance Corps, Unknown Superintendent of St Andrew’s Ambulance Corps, Unknown, Superintendent George Macauley, ‘D’ Division, Inspector Thomas Redpath, ‘D’ Division.

 

If you can identify any of the unknown men in the above picture, please contact the website.

The medals of PC 281B James Gilchrist from his time with the Seaforth Highlanders and Edinburgh City Police where he also played in the pipe band. (Picture courtesy of Steve Grainger).

Edinburgh City Police

PC 281B James Gilchrist

 

Afghanistan Medal (1878 - 1880) Clasps 'Charasia', 'Kabul' and 'Kandahar'

Kabul to Kandahar Star

Egypt Medal (1882 - 1889) Clasp 'Tel-el-Kebir'

King Edward VII Police (Scotland) Medal 1903 ('Visit to Scotland Medal')

King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal 1911

Khedive's Star (Egypt 1882 - 1891)

This blurry image confirms James Gilchrist's military service with the Seaforth Highlanders and was published on 15 March 1915 after a meeting to present him with gifts by his former colleagues to commemorate his retirement on 25 January 1915.

Pipe Major Hugh Calder, Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band 

PM Hugh Calder, Edinburgh City Police
The pipe banner awarded to PM Hugh Calder of Edinburgh City Police on their winning the World's Championship Pipe Band Contest at Cowal, Dunoon, 1919.
Superintendent Hugh Calder 'C' Division (then Braid Place) in 1922.
King Edward VII Police Medal (Scotland), 1903 (Visit to Scotland) & King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal, 1911 awarded to Superintendent Hugh Calder, Edinburgh City Police (see picture above).
King's Police Medal (KPM) awarded to Superintendent Hugh Calder, Edinburgh City Police
Inscription on KPM to Hugh Calder, ECP

Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band Drummer's Sporran

Edinburgh City Police Drummer's Sporran (see officers on front row above)
Cantle detail, Edinburgh City Police Drummer's sporran

Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band circa 1919

 

PM Calder is absent. The Pipe-Sergeant is called Henderson. 

Edinburgh City Police,  Piper Hugh McDonald

Piper Hugh McDonald, Edinburgh City Police. He was appointed to ECP on 15 July, 1919 as PC 296'A'.

PC 296 B Hugh McDonald

 

Hugh McDonald was born on 23 December, 1890 in Edinburgh. His father was William McDonald, a Tram Driver and his mother, Jeanie Black or McDonald.

 

The family were living at 19 Henderson Row, Edinburgh in the Census of 1891.

 

By 1901, they were living not far away at 13 Collins Place, Edinburgh.

 

In the Census of England, 1911, Hugh McDonald is recorded as a ‘Private’, (20), in the ‘3rd Dragoon Guards’ stationed at ‘1st Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Dragoon Guards, Wellington Lines, Aldershot in Hampshire’.

 

His occupation on enlistment on 27 October, 1910 was ‘Lithographer’.

 

His Edinburgh City Police personnel register records under ‘Medals & Decorations’, his entitlement to a ‘Mons Star with Rose’, ‘General Service Medal’ and ‘Victory Medal’. He was therefore an ‘Old Contemptible’, one of the first British regular troops into action in France during World War 1.

 

The 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards were serving in Egypt at the declaration of war in 1914 and were recalled to the UK. Arriving in October that year. Shortly afterwards they were posted to France landing at Le Havre on 1 November, 1914. On arrival, they joined the 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division and served in this formation until the end of the war on the Western Front.

 

He was discharged from the Royal Tank Corps, Number, 388431 (D/5280) at Canterbury in Kent. The record shows his date of marriage to Catherine Fraser Watt at Edinburgh on 4 November, 1915 and the birth of their son, William McDonald, born 13 March, 1917 at 82 Rose Street, Edinburgh. The father, ‘Trooper Hugh McDonald, 6th Dragoon Guards’, registered the birth.

 

Hugh McDonald’s Medal Index Card (MIC) and his Army Record of Discharge both show that he entered France on 16 August, 1914, possibly with the 6th or 4th Dragoon Guards as number D/5280.

 

The 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards returned to Britain in March, 1919 and were stationed at Tidworth in Wiltshire.

 

Hugh McDonald joined Edinburgh City Police on 15 July, 1919 as PC 296 B.

 

His previous occupation was also recorded as ‘Lithographer’.

 

He was a member of the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band.

 

Between 1924 and 1931, he was commended for ‘vigilance and activity’, vigilance and energy’, ‘activity and vigilance’ and ‘alertness and resource’, all for the arrest of thieves, shop breakers and house breakers so he was clearly an active officer.

 

On 18 October, 1932, he transferred to A Division.

 

Whilst still a serving officer in Edinburgh City Police, Hugh McDonald, (48), married to Catherine Fraser Watt, died in Ward 18 of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. His usual address was 150 Crewe Road East, Edinburgh. Catherine McDonald, his widow, registered his death.

 

I have more details on his Army service as well as his service in Edinburgh City Police and I am aware that some family members are tracing the family tree. Please get in touch and I will be happy to share those details.

 

 

Rear view of picture of Piper Hugh McDonald, Edinburgh City Police
PC 296 B Hugh McDonald in 1922. He is wearing the medal ribbons of the 'Mons Star' (1914 Star), British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band between 1923 - 1929. Pipe Major Alexander Henry & Pipe-Sergeant William Sutherland

Edinburgh City Police outside HQ in Parliament Square between 1923 - 1929 as Alexander Henry is Pipe-Major. William Sutherland is Pipe-Sergeant and on his right is Piper William McNair, wearing four medals.

Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band 1928 Pipe Major Alexander Henry & Pipe-Sergeant William Sutherland

Sunday 21 September 1930 and around 500 men of Edinburgh City Police are marching from Dr Guthrie's School in Lasswade Road to Liberton Parish Church in the Southside of Edinburgh for Church Parade.
The Church Parades began in 1924 and continued to 1938 when they were cancelled because of the political uncertainty. Originally held at Buccleuch Parish Church in the Southside, later at Liberton Parish Church and finally at St Giles Cathedral, next door to to the Police HQ in the High Street. Collections taken at the service were in aid of funds for Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The picture below features Pipe-Major William Sutherland on the front row left, then Pipe-Corporal John McKinlay and Piper William McNair. The Pipe-Sergeant on the extreme right, front row is Hance Gates, an ex-Scots Guard who later became Pipe-Major.
Not visible in the picture above but in the extreme right of the picture of the static band outside Edinburgh City Police HQ in Parliament Square Edinburgh between 1923 - 1929, in the 3rd row, is former Pipe-Major of the 15th Battalion Royal Scots, David Anderson.
He rather famously played the pipes for the battalion as they 'went over the top' on 1 July 1916 in the First Battle of the Somme. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre which can be seen to the right of his British War and Victory Medals. It can also be seen in the picture below, taken in 1928.
PC 133A David Anderson, of Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, formerly Pipe-Major 15th Royal Scots awarded Croix de Guerre for playing the battalion into battle on First day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916.

Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band Pipe Major Donald Shaw Ramsay

Pipe Major Donald Shaw Ramsay, Edinburgh City Police

On the amalgamation of Edinburgh City Police with Lothians & Peebles Constabulary and Berwick, Roxburgh & Selkirk Constabulary in May, 1975, the band changed its name to Lothian & Borders Pipe Band.

 

This is the Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band with Pipe Major Duncan Smith, in Princes Street, c1988.

Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band, Pipe Major Duncan Smith c1988

Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band accoutrements

 

All of the pictures above and below, with the exception of that with PM Duncan Smith in 1988, are courtesy of Stewart Gardiner, a former Leading Drummer in the Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band. Thanks Stewart.

 

Feather Bonnet detail: Police black & white diced band with Edinburgh City Police ceremonial helmet plate as the badge
Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band Sporran
Sporran Cantle Detail:
Crossbelt Detail: This is a modern cast version of the Edinburgh City Police ceremonial helmet plate
Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band Kilt Pin Detail
Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band Glengarry. The Badge is an Edinburgh City Police ceremonial helmet plate
Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band Plaid Brooch Detail

STOP PRESS See one of only two 'Visit to Scotland' 1903 medals issued to a Metropolitan Police Officer - DS David Liddle

Completely New Metropolitan Police Medals from WW2

Completely Updated

Accurate Medal Roll for all 120 Royal Parks 1911 Police Coronation Medals

News: New roll of all Scottish officers awarded KPM 1909 - 1954 (From Ian Hall) 

Print | Sitemap
© scottishpolicemedals