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

Scottish Police Officers Who Volunteered for the Army & Navy in WW1

The ‘Great War’ began in July 1914. Hostilities ended with the Armistice on 11 November 1918 although the war did not officially end until 1919.

The Medals of PC Patrick Shields Park - City of Glasgow Police

SCOTTISH POLICE VOLUNTEERS IN WORLD WAR 1

 

Now, 100 years on, seems an appropriate time to recall and acknowledge the contribution of the thousands of police officers swept up in the wave of patriotism when large numbers of the population of the United Kingdom volunteered for the Army and Navy.  It is also appropriate to record the effect the war had on some of those officers and their families.

 

Police officers throughout Britain were no different and many sought permission to enlist, mainly in the Army but significant numbers also volunteered for the Royal Navy.

 

The first batch to join up were the Reservists among the ranks who were called back to The Colours followed by two great waves of recruitment in 1914 and 1915.

 

One Edinburgh Constable, PC 474 John Luke, was so keen to join up that he incurred the wrath of the Chief Constable, Roderick Ross by joining the Army without permission and resigning.

 

His punishment on 1 June 1914 was to be “Fined 5/- and ordered to serve a month before being allowed to leave the service for having without the  permission of the Chief Constable having joined the Army and failing to tender his resignation through the medium of his Superintendent.”

 

Up to one million British servicemen and women lost their lives in the conflict and those police officers who volunteered were not exempt from ‘making the ultimate sacrifice’.

 

Although officers throughout Britain volunteered and indeed, from most forces in Scotland, this section will only feature a representative sample of those men who joined up.

 

I will add new names from time to time. Feel free to contact me if you have a Scottish Police relative you would like included.

 

I am the present custodian of the medals awarded to some of these men for their service and sacrifice and these articles are written in their honour and to preserve their memory.  

 

To view the articles on the police officers who served in WWI, please click on the links at the top left of this page.

 

The Roll of Edinburgh City Police officers who served in the British Army, the Royal Navy and the French Army in World War 1

Ceremonial Helmet Plate of Edinburgh City Police

Edinburgh City Police

 

The list below is a Roll of Edinburgh City Police officers who served in the British Army, the Royal Navy and the French Army in World War 1.

 

The data has been collected from a number of sources including a list published by Edinburgh Corporation in 1917 and from information in the Edinburgh City Police Weekly Records of the time. Please accept my apology if there are any transcription errors. If there is an entry which is incorrect, please get in touch and I will amend it.

 

Officers killed in action (KIA) or died of wounds are shown in blue ink.

 

If you are researching your family history and you are related to any of the officers listed here, please get in touch as I have more information than is possible to list on the website. Thank you.

 

 Name

Regiment or Service

Rank

Date  Enlisted

Remarks

Collar Number

Aitchison, Arthur

Scots Guards

Private

Aug-14

 

B 351

Allan, Robert B.

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

Aug-14

KIA

 

Alves, George

Cameron Highlanders

Private

Sep-14

KIA

 

Alves, William  B.

Cameron Highlanders

Private

Sep-14

   

Anderson, David

Royal Scots

Pipe Major

Oct-14

Awarded Croix de Guerre

 

Anderson, Duncan

Scottish Horse

Trooper

May-15

 

E 593

Anderson, George

Lovat Scouts

Sergeant

Mar-15

   

Anderson, John

Royal Garrison Artillery

Bombardier

May-15

 

D 514

Anderson, Peter R.

Scottish Horse

Trooper

May-15

 

A145

Anderson, Richard E.

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

D 522

Angus, Peter F.

Gordon Highlanders

Private

May-15

 

A 159

Annand, William

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

Died of Wounds

A 133

Ashe, Thomas

Royal Navy

 

May-17

   

Balfour, Alexander

Scottish Horse

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

E 618

Bayne, David Shepherd

Royal Scots/Military Foot Police

Private

Dec-14

A 122 after War

A 55

Beale, Walter H.

Royal Field Artillery

Bombardier

Jun-15

 

C 399

Beaton, Alexander

Scots Guards

Private

Feb-17

   

Begg, William

Royal Engineers

Private

May-15

 

B 213

Bell, Henry G.

Highland Light Infantry

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

Sep-14

   

Bell, Thomas

Royal Scots

Private

May-15

KIA

D 577

Berry, Francis H.

Royal Scots

2nd Lieutenant

May-15

Also served in 20 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps  

Birnie, William J.

Gordon Highlanders

2nd Lieutenant

Sep-14

   

Bisset, George

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

May-15

 

C 349

Blaney, David

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

B 313

Brady, Joseph

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

Braidwood, John

Royal Garrison Artillery

Bombardier

Jun-15

   

Brotherstone, William

Royal Field Artillery

Corporal

Jun-15

   

Brotherstone, William B.

Royal Field Artillery

Bombardier

Jun-15

   

Brown, Colin Fraser

Royal Garrison Artillery

Sergeant

Jun-15

Picture in PR & PG

A 621

Bruce, Andrew W.

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

D 531

Bruce, Samuel

Royal Army Medical Corps

Sergeant

Feb-15

   

Burchill, George

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

Cameron, Alexander

Lovat Scouts

Private

Nov-14

   

Cameron, Alexander

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

Cameron, Peter

Royal Garrison Artillery

Bombardier

May-15

Picture in PR & PG

A 161

Cameron, William

Royal Field Artillery

Gunner

Sep-16

   

Campbell, Donald

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

A 10

Campbell, Dugald

Cameron Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

Died of Wounds

 

Campbell, James L.

Cameron Highlanders

Sergeant

Oct-14

   

Campbell, Roderick

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

May-15

Picture in PR & PG

A 53

Campbell, William G.

Lovat Scouts

Private

Nov-14

   

Chalmers, James

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

May-15

 

B 246

Christie, Alfred

Scots Guards

Private

Sep-16

   

Clark, Andrew Pace

Household Battalion/Scots Guards Trooper

Jul-17

   

Clark, James

Household Battalion/Scots Guards Trooper

Jul-17

Brother of John Prain Clark PC278B

Clark, John Prain

Seaforth Highlanders

Sergeant

May-15

KIA

B 204

Clark, Peter

Lovat Scouts

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

A 95

Combe, James A.

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

Sep-14

   

Davidson, Alexander W.

Lovat Scouts

Private

Nov-14

   

Davidson, George M.

Cameron Highlanders

Corporal

May-15

 

D 552

Davidson, William

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

 

 

Davis, William S.

Scots Guards

Private

Apr-15

   

Denholm, John

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

D 546

Dewar, James

Royal Field Artillery

Bombardier

Sep-15

   

Donald, Frank

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

C 362

Donaldson, Edward

Lovat Scouts

Private

Jun-15

   

Donaldson, George

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

A 54

Donaldson, William B.

Scots Greys

Sergeant

May-16

   

Doran, Francis

Irish Guards

Private

Oct-14

   

Dougall, James

Scots Guards

Sergeant

Jan-15

 

A 126

Duff, Donald J.

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

B 249

Dunnet, Alexander

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

Station House Sergeant C Division 1922

 

Elrick, Andrew G.

Lancers

Sergeant

Aug-14

   

Fairie, William

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

 

D 524

Feist, James H.

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

Aug-14

 

A 150

Finlayson, John

Gordon Highlanders

Private

Oct-14

 

 

Fraser, Joseph

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-14

 

C 383

Frisken, Peter

Royal Field Artillery

Bombardier

Jun-15

   

Gates, Hance

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

Gibson, Victor L.

Lovat Scouts

Private

Jun-15

   

Giles, Henry

Royal Garrison Artillery

Corporal

May-16

   

Gordon, Alexander

Seaforth Highlanders

Corporal

May-15

 

C 354

Gordon, William

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

Graham, Thomas

Cameron Highlanders

Private

Aug-14

KIA

 

Grant, George H.

Scots Guards

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

 

Gunn, John G.

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

A 104

Halliday, William

Military Police

Lance Corporal

Oct-16

   

Hardie, John

Royal Garrison Artillery

Sergeant

Aug-14

   

Hay, Alexander

Lovat Scouts

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

B 256

Henderson, Andrew

Lovat Scouts

Corporal

May-15

   

Henderson, Andrew

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

 

B 230

Henderson, David

Lovat Scouts

Lance Corporal

May-15

Died of Wounds

 

Hepburn, David

Lovat Scouts

Corporal

May-15

 

D 570

Hill, David

Cameron Highlanders

Private

May-15

KIA

D462

Hislop, David D

Royal Scots

Sergeant

May-15

 

B 301

Howden, James W.

Scots Greys

Sergeant

Aug-14

 

C 400

Hunter, John

Royal Scots

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

Jun-15

   

Hurry, Alexander

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

May-15

 

A 119

Innes, John

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

Jun-15

Awarded Military Medal. Picture in PR & PG Re-joined 16.1.1919

A 163

Irvine, George

Royal Navy

 

Jul-17

   

Irvine, Laurence B.

Royal Navy

 

May-17

   

Isoardi, Thomas

French Army

2nd Lieutenant

Aug-14

   

Jenkinson, William

Royal Scots

Private

May-15

KIA

D 489

Keith, Alexander

Royal Scots, 16th Battalion

Private

Dec-14

KIA 1 July 1916

PC164A

Kennedy, Angus

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

Jun-15

   

Kennedy, John

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

May-15

Died

B 235

Kerr, Argyll

Scots Guards

Private

Jul-17

   

Kinnear, James

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

Laing, John F.

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

Jul-17

 

B 355

Lindsay, Robert

Scottish Horse

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

E 591

Lumsden, James

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

A 87

McCondach, Robert

Royal Scots

Private

May-15

   

McCulloch, Donald

Seaforth Highlanders

Corporal

May-15

 

A 51

MacDonald, John

Cameron Highlanders

Lance Corporal

Jul-17

   

McDonald, Linlyie

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

May-15

 

B 259

MacDonald, Norman

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

Jul-17

   

McDonald, Thomas

Dragoon Guards

Sergeant

May-16

   

McGlashan, John L.

Scots Guards

Private

Sep-14

   

McGregor, Alexander

Scots Guards

Private

Oct-14

   

McGregor, David

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

B 262

MacGregor, James E.

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

May-15

 

A 162

Machray, George

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

Possibly a Detective Constable in B Division in 1922

 

McIntosh, David

Scots Guards

Private

Oct-14

   

Macintosh, Thomas

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

May-15

Picture in PR & PG

A 7

Mackay, Alexander

Seaforth Highlanders

Corporal

May-15

Awarded Military Medal

D 461

McKay, Anson

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

May-15

 

B 281

Mackay, Donald

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

D 569

McKay, John A. G.

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

 

Mackay, John D.

Scots Guards

Private

Apr-15

   

McKay, Roderick

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

Died of Wounds

 

McKennie, Robert

Royal Scots

Sergeant-Major

Mar-15

KIA

 

McKenzie, Alexander

Lovat Scouts

Sergeant

May-15

Awarded Military Medal

B 277

Mackenzie, Christopher

Seaforth Highlanders

Sergeant

Sep-14

   

Mackenzie, Finlay

Lovat Scouts

Sergeant

May-15

   

Mackie, David P.

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

McKinlay, John

Lothians and Border Horse

Corporal

May-15

 

B 233

Mackintosh, Charles L.

Royal Engineers

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

D 500

Mackintosh, William

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

Mar-17

   

McLean, Allan

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

McLeod, Donald

Royal Engineers

Driver

May-15

 

C 350

McNair, William

Royal Scots

Pipe-Corporal

May-15

 

D 535

Macpherson, Angus

   

Jul-17

   

McPherson, Daniel

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

May-15

 

C 398

McRae, Kenneth J.

Scots Guards

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

Sep-14

   

McRae, Roderick

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

McTaggart, John

Scots Greys

Sergeant

May-16

   

Masterton, James

Highland Light Infantry

Private

Jun-17

   

Mearns, Alexander

Black Watch

Private

Jul-15

Station House Keeper B Division 1922

 

Mein, Stewart

Royal Scots

Sergeant

May-15

 

A 31

Melvin, Thomas S.

Cameron Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA Picture in SPM website

D 549

Mills, Adam R. E.

Scots Guards

Lance-Sergeant

Aug-14

 

A 175

Milne, James

Black Watch

Private

Aug-14

   

Milne, James P.

Royal Scots

Private

Jan-15

   

Morin, John

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

D 550

Morren, William B. R.

Royal Scots

2nd Lieutenant

May-15

Later became Chief Constable

 

Morrison, Norman

Seaforth Highlanders, No. 8675, 1st Battalion

Private

Aug-14

Army Reservist, 'Called to Colours', 5 August 1914.In France 25th, wounded in Retreat to Mons, 29th. KIA Neuve Chapelle, 10 March 1915.

 

Morton, Alexander

Gordon Highlanders

Private

Oct-14

 

 

Mowat, Murdo

Lovat Scouts

Sergeant-Major

May-15

 

B 279

Mowat, William W.

Lovat Scouts

Lance Corporal

Nov-14

   

Muirhead, William

Royal Field Artillery

Sergeant

Jul-15

   

Munnoch, Andrew

Lovat Scouts

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

A

Munro, John

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

B 229

Murray, James H.

Black Watch

Corporal

Sep-14

   

Naysmith, James D. H.

Royal Scots

Private

Jul-17

   

Newlands, David R.

Seaforth Highlanders

Corporal

May-15

KIA

 

Newlands, John D. M.

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

   

Nicole, James

Royal Scots

Corporal

Oct-14

 

B 305

Patterson, Thomas

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

C 352

Pattison, James

Lovat Scouts

Private

Jun-15

 

D 540

Peacock, Matthew

Royal Scots

2nd Lieutenant

May-15

Retired as Supt 'D' Divn. West End

 

Pennie, William M.

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

C 384

Polson, Donald

Seaforth Highlanders

Corporal

May-15

Died of Wounds

A 152

Pryde, Alexander

Cameron Highlanders

Private

May-15

 

D 533

Raeburn, Alexander

Royal Scots

Private

May-15

 

B 210

Reid, Duncan

Lothians and Border Horse

Private

May-15

 

B 269

Reid, John

Scots Guards

Private

Sep-14

KIA

 

Reid, Robert

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

   

Reid, Robert

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Private

Feb-15

 

A 38

Rennie, John McGhee

Royal Scots

Corporal

May-15

Awarded Military Medal

D 521

Richardson, John J.

Lovat Scouts

Regimental Sergeant Major

Nov-14

   

Robertson, George

Scots Guards

Corporal

Oct-14

   

Robertson, James

Lovat Scouts

Private

Nov-14

   

Robertson, William

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

   

Robinson, James C.

Scots Guards

Lance Corporal

Aug-14

   

Ross, Andrew

Royal Scots

Sergeant

May-15

 

A 115

Ross, Donald F.

Royal Engineers

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

C 414

Ross, Hector

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

C 368

Roy, John

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

A 30

Russell, Alexander

Scots Guards

Private

Aug-14

   

Salmond, George

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

B 270

Seaton, George D.

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

May-15

 

C 397

Sharp, Andrew

Scottish Horse

Private

May-15

 

E 598

Shaw, Alexander G.

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

Aug-14

Died of Wounds

 

Shaw, David

Cameron Highlanders

Lance Corporal

Jul-17

   

Shaw, Dugald

Lovat Scouts

Sergeant

May-15

KIA Lt Seaforths

D 518

Sheed, John

Scots Guards

Lance-Sergeant

May-15

 

B 260

Smith, Alexander

Lovat Scouts

Private

Nov-14

   

Smith, Alexander G.

Royal Scots

Pipe-Major

May-15

 

C 342

Smith, John

Scots Guards

Private

Sep-14

   

Somerville, George

Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

May-15

Died of Wounds

C 347

Somerville, James W.

Royal Engineers

Corporal

May-15

 

C 377

Soutar, Frederick M.

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

Jul-15

   

Spence, William

Gordon Highlanders

Sergeant

Oct-14

 

C 465

Spicer, Edward W.

Royal Scots

Sergeant

Jun-15

   

Stephen, Henry B. R.

Lovat Scouts

sergeant

May-15

 

B 291

Stewart, Andrew

Scots Guards

Private

Sep-14

KIA

 

Stewart, James

Royal Garrison Artillery

Bombardier

May-15

KIA 15.08.17

C 417

Stewart, William S.

Royal Army Medical Corps

Private

Jul-15

   

Strathearn, George

Lothians and Border Horse

Trooper

May-15

 

D 584

Sutherland, Hugh

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

A 140

Sutherland, John

Cameron Highlanders

Corporal

May-15

 

D 502

Sutherland, Robert

Lothians and Border Horse

Sergeant

May-15

 

B 253

Sutherland, Thomas

Scots Guards

Private

Oct-14

   

Tait, Archibald

Lovat Scouts

Private

May-15

 

A 111

Tarrant, David

Cameron Highlanders

Private

Aug-14

Died of Wounds

 

Taylor, Alexander

Scots Guards

Private

Sep-14

   

Taylor, James

Cameron Highlanders

Lance Corporal

Jun-15

   

Taylor, Thomas

Lovat Scouts

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

D 534

Telfer, William

Royal Scots

Sergeant

Oct-14

Plain Clothes Officer A Division in 1922

 

Thomson, David

Scots Greys

Corporal

May-16

   

Thomson, James

Royal Navy

Chief Engineer

Jun-15

Not sure which is correct

B 235

Thomson, James

Scottish Horse

Private

May-15

Not sure which is correct

E 620

Thomson, Robert M.

Royal Field Artillery

Gunner

Jun-15

   

Tofts, Andrew

Royal Scots

Corporal

Jun-15

   

Tofts, Robert R.

Royal Scots

Sergeant

May-15

 

B 207

Turner, Edward

Royal Engineers

Sapper

May-15

 

A 99

Tweedie, William

Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Private

Jun-17

 

C 421

Valentine, George

Lothians and Border Horse

Trooper

May-15

 

B 306

Walker, John

Royal Field Artillery

Bombardier

Aug-14

 

D 497

Ward, Joseph

Irish Guards

Private

May-15

 

E 604

Watson, David A.

Royal Garrison Artillery

Gunner

Jun-15

   

Watt, George

Scots Guards

Private

May-15

KIA

 

Watt, John

Seaforth Highlanders

Corporal

May-15

 

A 157

Watt, William

Lothians and Border Horse

Trooper

May-15

 

D 530

Webster, William

Household Battalion

Trooper

Jul-17

 

B 336

Weir, Alexander

Seaforth Highlanders

Private

May-15

 

A 125

Weir, William

Scots Guards

Lance Corporal

May-15

KIA

 

Wheldon, Joseph

Lovat Scouts

Private

Jun-15

   

Wightman, William

Royal Engineers

Lance Corporal

May-15

 

D 486

Wilson, Alfred

Royal scots

Pipe-Major

May-15

 

C 411

Wilson, George

Scots Guards

Private

May-15

KIA

 

Wilson, James

Scots Guards

Private

Feb-17

   

Winton, James

Scots Guards

Corporal

Aug-14

 

A 5

Wishart, James

Gordon Highlanders

Sergeant

Oct-14

Died of Wounds

 

Wood, John

Royal Scots

Lance Corporal

Oct-14

   

Police War Memorials

Ayrshire Constabulary & Kilmarnock Burgh Police War Memorial
Edinburgh City Police "B" Division War Memorial (Gayfield Square)
Edinburgh City Police "D" Division (Then at the West End Police Station).
Leith Burgh Police War Memorial (At Queen Charlotte Street)
Midlothian Constabulary War Memorial (At Dalkieth Police Station)
West Lothian Constabulary War Memorial (At Linlithgow Police Station)

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