Dr Alexander William Gordon Price

King Edward VII Police (Scotland) Medal, 1903

The list of six Doctors awarded the ‘Visit to Scotland medal by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Right Honourable Sir Robert Cranston in a ceremony at Royal Exchange Square, Edinburgh on 1 March, 1904 and published in the Police Review and Parade Gossip of 4 March, 1904 includes the following:[i]

Dr Sir Henry Duncan Littlejohn

Dr Henry Harvey Littlejohn

Dr Claude Buchanan Ker

Dr Edmund Frederick Tanney Price

Dr Alexander William Gordon Price

Dr Charles Kennedy

Dr Alexander William Gordon Price

Alexander William Gordon Price was the elder brother of Dr Edmund Frederick Tanney Price. He was born in Peshawar, India on 28 October, 1859, the son of Alexander George Price, a ‘Steward’ with the 7^th Royal Fusiliers, and Elizabeth Constantia Locking or Price.

He was baptised in Peshawar by the Reverend John Sharkey, Chaplain, on 11 December, 1959. [ii]

According to the British Medical Register for 1903, Alexander William Gordon Price date of first registration was 9 January, 1884 in England and his qualifications were ‘M.B., Mast. Surg.1883, Univ. of Edin.’.

Interestingly, the entry above his is his father, Alexander George Price, first date of registration of 6 July, 1883 in England. His qualifications are ‘Surgeon, H.M. Indian Army before 1858 and his address is Betul, Central Provinces, India’. [iii]

The Edinburgh Evening News of Monday 11 May, 1903 reported the following:

“St Andrew’s Ambulance Association

Arrangements

Today an ambulance waggon will be stationed at the corner of St Andrew’s Square and St Andrew Street in charge of the ambulance officer, with a party of stretcher bearers from the Caledonian Railway Prices Street Station Ambulance Corps.

Another ambulance waggon will be stationed at St Patrick Square, under the charge of Dr Charles Kennedy, with a party of stretcher bearers from the Scottish Wholesale Co-operative Society Ambulance Corps.

Tomorrow, an ambulance waggon will be stationed at East Register Street in charge of Dr D. J. Graham with a party of stretcher bearers from the Scottish Wholesale Co-operative Society Ambulance Corps.

There will also be an ambulance waggon at St Patrick Square as on Monday.

On Wednesday, an ambulance waggon will be stationed at corner of St Andrew’s Square and St Andrew Street in charge of ambulance officer with party of certificated ambulance men to act as stretcher bearers. The waggon (with personnel) will be transferred after their Majesties have passed into the castle, to Cluny Gardens, Morningside.

An ambulance waggon will be stationed in Charlotte Square to which will be attached, a party of certificated ambulance men. The waggon will be transferred after their Majesties have passed into the castle, to the west end of Brougham Street, Tollcross.

Dressing stations will be established in the receiving block of Colinton Mains Hospital in charge of Dr Edmund Price, Dr Jackson with a party of stretcher bearers, consisting of members of the

Scottish Wholesale Co-operative Society Ambulance Corps and other certificated ambulance men.

The association will also supply personnel to attend on the City Police waggon under the charge of Drs A. Gordon Price and Edmund Price during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.” [iv]

Dr Alexander William Gordon Price died at 45 Grange Road in Edinburgh on 25 April, 1924. It seems that he used the surname ‘Gordon-Price as in his will, his wife is styled ‘Mrs Jessie Mary Margaret Macadam or Gordon-Price’. [v]

The final entry concerning Dr Alexander William Gordon Price can be found in an obituary in The Edinburgh Evening News of 26 April, 1924 which states: -

“Death of an Edinburgh Doctor

Doctor Alexander Gordon-Price, a well-known Edinburgh practitioner who had been in failing health for some time, died yesterday in his 65^th year.

Dr Price was the son of the late Dr A. G. Price and was a graduate of Edinburgh University.

He held a number of public appointments in the city in addition to his large private practice.

He was Police Surgeon for “A” Division and was formerly Medical Officer to the Fire Brigade.

He held temporary rank in the R.A.M.C. (Royal Army Medical Corps) and was formerly visiting physician at Marshall Street Dispensary.”

Please get in touch with the website if you can add any further information on any of the Doctors Price, or any image of the 1903 medal awarded to the Edinburgh Doctors in 1903. Thank you.