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Incident
PC Stirrat was on duty at Broughty Ferry Police Station when, around 6:00am, a report was received of an ‘unfamiliar object’ near the beach at Fisher Street and Dundas Street.
He swiftly responded to the report and on approaching the object he identified it as a mine. Realising the danger it would pose to Naval and Merchant shipping if it drifted back out into the estuary, he threw a rope around the mine and pulled it toward the shore to secure it but, as he did so, it exploded.
Robert was taken to Dundee Royal Infirmary in a critical condition and his family was called to his bedside. Though heavily sedated, he was aware of his extensive injuries.
In the Procurator Fiscal’s precognition into Robert’s death, the cause was amended to ‘Extensive injuries to both legs, right hand, shock and haemorrhage caused by explosion of mine’.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Constable Stirrat served with the Dundee City Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Stirrat.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Dundee City Police has lost 13 officers; 3 of them killed feloniously.
Robert is one of 46 officers killed feloniously in SCT, 14.9% of the 308 remembered there.
Robert is one of 1,170 officers killed feloniously in United Kingdom, 30.9% of the 3,791 remembered there.
Robert is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1941, 8 officers in SCT were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1941, 167 officers in United Kingdom were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1941, 260 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Robert was 24. Of the 38 killed feloniously in SCT whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 40.8; the middle age was 36.
Robert was 24. Of the 1,048 killed feloniously in United Kingdom whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 44; the middle age was 36.
Robert was 24. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
May holds 8.7% of these deaths in SCT; March holds the most, 17.4%. Mondays: 13%.
May holds 12.6% of these deaths in United Kingdom, more than any other month. Mondays: 14%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 23.1% of all 13 deaths at Dundee City Police, the 3rd most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 14.9% of all 308 deaths in SCT, the 3rd most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 30.9% of all 3,791 deaths in United Kingdom, the 2nd most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Dundee City Police has 13 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
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Ewan McDonald Jun 22, 1851
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William Swan Aug 27, 1868
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James Watson Sep 18, 1870
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Richard White Nov 7, 1870
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Hugh McCallum Sep 1, 1875
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Charles Cruickshanks Dec 1, 1882
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David McBay Aug 19, 1893
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James Palmer Dec 5, 1896
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James Paton Black Nov 4, 1908
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William Dickson Oct 21, 1911
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McGregor Ower Walker Sep 16, 1932
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Simon Fraser Taylor Jan 8, 1938
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Robert Stirrat
May 5, 1941
Where the Name Is Cut
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Dundee City Police are honored on badge.nw.