Name |
John ADAMSON, PC 521B *
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Date & Place of Birth |
10 April, 1898, Buckhaven in Fife.
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Date of Appointment |
18 September 1919
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Date Resigned/Retired/Left the force
|
19 September, 1949 - Retired on Pension. |
Collar Numbers |
705 E, 521 B, 90E, 125, Inspector 22 & 24
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Regiment or Corps |
Royal Army Service Corps (3 years 10 months).
He was living at 38 Buchanan Street, Leith when he enlisted on 23 October, 1915. He lied about his age stating that he was “19 years and 107 days”. He was, in fact, 17.
His Regimental Number was 123847. He joined the Expeditionary Force in France having left Southampton on the S.S. “Princess Clementine", arriving at Le Havre the next day, 14 July, 1916.
He was posted initially to the Brigade Horse Transport Depot at Le Havre and then to the 16th Divisional Train with the 1st Division on 4 September, 1916.
From his arrival date in 1916, the 1st Division took part in the battles of the Somme, the Battle of Albert, (July), the Battle of Bazentin, (July), the Battle of Pozieres, (July-September), the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, (September) and the Battle of Morval, (September).
The Division was thereafter involved in many major battles from 1917 to the end of the war.
He was discharged to the ‘Z’ Army Reserve on 15 September, 1919 and joined Leith Burgh Police three days later. His home address by then was 10 Kirk Street in Leith.
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Medals
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British war Medal Victory Medal Coronation Medal, 1937 Defence Medal
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Remarks |
After Army service, John Adamson Joined Leith Burgh Police on 18 September, 1919.
He became part of Edinburgh City Police on the amalgamation of 2 November, 1920.
On 26 July, 1921, he was transferred from E Division (Leith) to B Division (Gayfield Square).
On 7 January, 1930, he was promoted to the rank and pay of Sergeant and transferred back to Leith (E Division) as PS 90 E.
On 25 May, 1940, he was promoted to the rank and pay of 6th Class Inspector (No. 22) and transferred to C Division (The West End).
On 18 June, 1940, he was transferred back to Leith as Inspector No. 24.
John Adamson retired from Edinburgh City Police on 19 September, 1949.
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Name |
Alexander Aitchison PC 475 C *
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Date & Place of Birth |
31 May, 1891, Hutton in Berwickshire
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Previous Occupation
|
Farm Servant
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Date of Appointment |
21 March, 1912, Midlothian Constabulary
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Date Resigned/Retired/Left the force
|
Not recorded in his police personal record. |
Collar Numbers |
475 C, 164 , 76 .
|
Regiment or Corps |
Seaforth Highlanders (3 years 8 months).
He served in the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders as Private S.8855 and later as a Sergeant. His Medal Index Card (MIC) and Medal rolls confirm his entitlement to his three war medals.
His ‘date of embarkation’ on the MIC is 3 October, 1915.
The 7th service Battalion of the Seaforths was formed at Fort George and came under 26th Brigade in the 9th (Scottish) Division. The battalion first landed at Boulogne in May, 1915.
His unit were certainly involved in the Battle of Loos and the Somme Offensive.
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Medals
|
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal Defence Medal George VI Coronation Medal
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Remarks |
Alexander Aitchison joined Midlothian Constabulary on 21 March, 1912.
He resigned to join the Army on 29 May, 1915 and was re-appointed on his discharge on 13 January, 1919.
He became part of Edinburgh City Police in the force amalgamation of 2 November, 1920 when part of Midlothian Constabulary joined the City force.
His whole service seems to have been in ‘the South Side’.
The award of the King George VI Coronation Medal in 1937 is verified in the medal roll. His rank is confirmed as Constable in that year.
He was still serving in 1944 when he was awarded a total of ‘five War Service Chevrons’ which were worn on the tunic sleeve.
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Arthur Aitchison PC 551 D – West End Police Station (No picture available)
Name |
Arthur Aitchison PC 551 D
|
Date & Place of Birth |
16 November, 1891,Galshiels in Selkirkshire
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Previous Occupation
|
Soldier
|
Date of Appointment |
11 November, 1913
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Date Resigned/Retired/Left the force
|
Not recorded in his police personal record. |
Collar Numbers |
551 D
|
Regiment or Corps |
Scots Guards (3 years).
‘Called to the Colours’ on 4 August, 1914. His Regimental No.was 7741 and his 'disembarkation date' in France was 21 August, 1914.
He was entitled to the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal according to his Medal Index Card (MIC).
He is listed on the West End Police Station memorial tablet to those who served and those who died as "Corporal A. Aitchison".
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Medals
|
1914 Star British War Medal Victory Medal
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Remarks |
Arthur Aitchison joined Edinburgh City Police on 11 November, 1913.
He was ‘Called to the Colours’ on 4 August, 1914 and returned to the Scots Guards for the duration of the war.
He was re-appointed on his discharge on 18 March, 1919 with “4 years and 226 days former Army and Police Service counting towards pension.
Arthur Aitchison left Edinburgh City Police on 11 April, 1921 and I do not have his picture.
Please contact the website if you have an image of PC Arthur Aitchison. Thank you.
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Name |
James Johnstone Aitchison PC 351 B
|
Date & Place of Birth |
8 November, 1894 in Edinburgh.
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Previous Occupation
|
Sculptor
|
Date of Appointment |
13 January, 1920
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Date Resigned/Retired/Left the force
|
31 March 1947 |
Collar Numbers |
351B, 84HQ (Aliens Dept.), 392B (Plain Clothes), 25, 38HQ (CID).
|
Regiment or Corps |
Not recorded on his Police papers
|
Medals
|
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal
|
Remarks |
James Johnstone Aitchison joined Edinburgh City Police on 13 January, 1920.
He served on Division in Gayfield, then the Aliens Department at Headquarters, a short spell at the Divisional Plain Clothes Department at Gayfield then transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department at Headquarters.
He retired on pension from Edinburgh City Police on 31 March, 1947.
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Joseph Alexander PC 331 C - Braid Place Police Station (No picture available)
Name |
Joseph Alexander PC 331 C
|
Date & Place of Birth |
9 August, 1893 in Glasgow
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Previous Occupation
|
Steelworker
|
Date of Appointment |
22 November, 1921
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Date Resigned/Retired/Left the force
|
25 November, 1946 |
Collar Numbers |
331C, 48A.
|
Regiment or Corps |
Highland Light Infantry (HLI) from 14 August, 1914 until 25 August, 1921
(Possibly Corporal 77196 in 2nd Battalion HLI, if so, he is entitled to 1914 Star, BWM and VM).
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Medals
|
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal
|
Remarks |
Joseph Alexander joined Edinburgh City Police on 22 November, 1921 after the Army service detailed above. His police papers state that he is entitled to the 1914-15 Star but the only Medal Index Card I can find states the 1914 Star.
He served on C Division in the South Side but was eventually transferred to A Division (then in the High Street, West Port and Abbeyhill only).
A and C Divisions amalgamated with the introduction of the Police Box system in 1933.
He retired on pension from Edinburgh City Police on 22 November, 1921.
|
Name |
Lewis Amos PC 441 C
|
Date & Place of Birth |
29 November, 1894 near Bath in Somerset
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Previous Occupation
|
Gardener
|
Date of Appointment |
2 March, 1920
|
Date Resigned/Retired/Left the force
|
8 April, 1946 |
Collar Numbers |
441C (South Side), PS 99D (Leith), 4, 285, PS 68C (West End).
|
Regiment or Corps |
Royal Field Artillery – Gunner 17756 -5 years
|
Medals
|
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal India General Service Medal (North West Frontier) with Afghan Clasp
|
Remarks |
Lewis Amos joined Edinburgh City Police on 2 March, 1920 after his Army Service with the Royal Field Artillery. He served two years in France before being posted to India and the North West Frontier.
His medal Index Card confirms his entitlement to all the medals above.
He served on C Division in the South Side but was promoted to Sergeant (PS 99D) and transferred to Leith (D Division) in 1938.
In 1941, he was transferred to the West End (C Division) as PS 68 C.
He retired on pension from Edinburgh City Police on 8 April, 1946.
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