Name
Arthur Murray Pirie (DSO)
3 May 1869
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/11/1917
48
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant Colonel
21st (Empress of India's) Lancers
attd. Cdg. Berkshire Yeomanry
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY
D. 57.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Lockers Park School Memorial, Hemel Hempstead, St Peter's Cemetery Cenotaph, Aberdeen, Scotland, Hambleden War Memorial, Bucks
Pre War
Arthur Murray Pirie was born on 3 May 1869 in Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Gordon and Valentine Pirie and one of six children. On the 1871 Census the family were living at Scotsdown House, Old Machar, Aberdeenshire. He was then the youngest of four children but there were also 12 servants and a governess listed.
By the 1881 Census he was a boarder at Lockers Park School, Hemel Hempstead, but in 1891 he and his sister Alice were living as boarders at the home of William and Emily Hill at 55 Park Street, St George, Hanover Square, London. Arthur's occupation was then given as 2nd Lieutenant in the Cavalry.
Arthur had joined the Cavalry in 1889 and served with the 21st Lancers in the Sudan, including Khartoum were he was slightly wounded. He was Mentioned in Despatches and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of services in Egypt and the Sudan. He was promoted to Captain in 1899 and Major in 1903 and retired in 1906.
He was married in Marylebone in 1907 to widow Marie Valerie Barrow (nee Gurdon) and they had a daughter Mona Valentine Pirie, born in 1909.
His widow's address on medal cards was given as The Cottage, Sunningdale, Berks and Brompton Square, London SW3.
Wartime Service
Arthur re-joined the army at the outbreak of war and served in France from 8 September 1914 with the Irish Life Guards as Second-in-Command of a brigade of machine guns. He was Mentioned in Despatches in January 1917 and in May 1917 went to Palestine, commanding the Berkshire Yeomanry regiment as Lieutenant Colonel.
He was killed in action on 21 November 1917 at Beitunia, about 20 miles north of Jerusalem, where he held a hill for two days against tremendous odds. He is buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery. Israel & Palestine.
Additional Information
His executor, David Macbeth Moir Milligan received pay owing of £429 13s. Probate of his estate was granted to David Macbeth Moir Milligan, Advocate, in London on 3 July 1918, with effects of £9215 0s 3d. His address was given as 23 Cork Street, Middlesex.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.hemelatwar.org., www.angloboerwar.com.,
