Roll of Honour
Leading Seaman
Charles Edgar Stirling
Student
Charles Edgar Stirling was born on 4th February 1897. He was the son of Alex Stirling, a post office clerk, and Margaret. The family home was at 19 Partickhill Road when, aged seventeen, Charles went up to the University of Glasgow. Later the family would move to 51 Hillhead Street, also in the west end. Charles matriculated for the session 1914-1915 to take classes in History and Humanity but did not stay long. War broke out. On 11th May 1915, he signed up with the Royal Naval Division and was off to the Dardanelles.
Although he signed up as a seaman, Charles would become a land soldier. The Royal Naval Division was formed in September 1914, combining the personnel from a number of naval and army reserves. It was known as 'Winston's Little Army' because it was founded by Churchill when he was First Lord of the Admiralty.
It was under the control of the Navy and its battalion names reflected naval history. Charles served in Hood Company of the 2nd Brigade. The Division was transferred to France in May 1916 and was placed under Army authority the following month.
It was while serving in France that Charles Edgar Stirling was killed in action on 13th November at the Battle of Ancre, at Beaumont-Hamel. The village was successfully attacked and captured from the Germans on 13th and 14th November 1916. He was just nineteen, a slim young Glaswegian with red hair and blue eyes, and not very tall at just over 5 feet 5 inches. He is buried at the Ancre British Cemetery at Beamont-Hamel, one of 1,206 casualties of the action.
Comments and Citations
University of Glasgow Registry Records
National Archives, Royal Naval Division (Ref: Record ADM 339/2)