| Pirie | Arthur Murray | | Lieutenant | PIRIE, ARTHUR MURRAY, Lieutenant, was born 3 May 1869, third son of Gordon Pirie, of Waterton. He entered the 21st Lancers 30 January 1889; served in the Sudan, 1898, including Khartoum (slightly wounded). He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 September 1898]; received the British Medal, Khedive's Medal with clasp, and the Fourth Class Medjidie, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 15 November 1898]: "Arthur Murray Pirie, Lieutenant, 21st Lancers. In recognition of services in Egypt and the Sudan, including the Battles of Atbara and Khartoum". Insignia, etc, sent to GOC, Egypt, and presented by the Duke of Connaught 19 February 1899. He became Captain, 1899; Major 23 December 1903, and retired 17 September 1904. Major Pirie went out to France with the BEF in 1914, and served with the Irish Life Guards as Second-in-Command, commanding a brigade of machine guns; was mentioned in Despatches January 1917. In 1917 he went to Palestine, commanding the Berkshire Yeomanry, and was killed in action 21 November 1917, at Beylunia, about 20 miles north of Jerusalem, a hill which he held for two days against tremendous odds, and where he is buried. The following notices appeared in the newspapers: "Killed in action on the 21st November, Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Murray Pirie, DSO, Lancers, Commanding Yeomanry, of St Mary's, Medmenham Abbey, Marlow, and Heliopolis, Egypt". "A memorial service for Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Murray Pirie, DSO, Lancers, Commanding Yeomanry, killed in action on 21 November, will take place in St Peter's Church, Medmenham, Marlow, tomorrow at 3".
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | 21st Lancers |
