Roll of Honour
2nd Lieutenant
Peter Robertson Purdie
Military Cross
MA
Peter Robertson Purdie was born on 19th September 1893 in Linlithgow to John Fyfe and Christina Fyfe. In 1901 the family were living at Donville, Little Dunkeld. Peter had two siblings: William and Margaret who were both born in Little Dunkeld. He attended Perth Academy. In 1911 Peter came to the University of Glasgow where he studied English and graduated MA with first class honours in the subject on the 20th November 1915.
During the First World War he served with the Royal Horse Artillery/ Royal Field Artillery as an Acting Bombardier, Regimental No. 125479. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 9th December 1916 and joined the 14th Heavy Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery on the 13th March 1917.
An extract from the Royal Garrison Artillery War Diary of August 1917 states:
“During the month the Battery continued in position in front of Oost Dunkerke. A large amount of shooting was done both by day and night. During the day all shoots were cross observed from the Battery O.P.s in Nieuport and Nieuport Bains respectively. Although the Battery was not subjected to any destructive shots, the personnel were considerably harassed both by day and night by hostile shelling of the battery and roads and light railways close by. Several casualties occurred, including 2nd Lieut. A. W. B. Peggie and 2nd Lieut. P. Purdie, both killed on the night of 17th/18th.â€
2nd Lieutenant Peter Robertson Purdie died on the 17th August 1917, aged 23. He is buried in the Coxyde Military Cemetery in Belgium. Peter is also commemorated on the Dunkeld and Little Dunkeld Parish War Memorial.
Comments and Citations
University of Glasgow Faculty, General Council and Registry records.
Biographical information: Details kindly provided by the Perth Academy Roll of Honour.
The University of Glasgow is a registered Scottish charity: Registration Number SC004401
