War veteran given police memorial recognition

By ALAN MCEWEN
Published on 29/03/2012 12:00

A LEITH police constable who died more than 60 years ago is to have his name inscribed on the Scottish Police Memorial recognising officers who lost their lives on duty.

Volunteers, who run the Scottish Police Memorial Trust, only realised First World War veteran Pc Andrew Greenshields was missing from the honour role when his grand-daughter contacted them.

Now his name is set to be added to the granite monument at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan Castle, in Fife, and his family have been invited to the annual memorial service in September.

Pc Greenshields’ daughter, Davina Macdonald, 73, said it was “lovely” that her father, who died in 1950, was being recognised for his service. The 50-year-old officer with Edinburgh City Police suffered a heart attack while on duty just before he was due to police a Hibs match at Easter Road.

Mrs Macdonald said: “I was only 11 years old when he died but my mother told me a lot about him. His family were raised in Kirkliston and he had three brothers and two sisters.

“When he was 16 all his pals were joining up to go to war and he wanted to go with them. They obviously didn’t do many age checks and he was signed up. He served for two years with the Gordon Highlanders. Sadly, one of his brothers died in the war.

“He joined the police in 1923 and had 27 years’ service. He was in the mounted section until he suffered an ankle injury. He was based in Leith and also worked in the police traffic department.

“The day he died he had got off a number 23 bus just after noon to come home for his lunch before going to Easter Road but he only got a few yards and collapsed.”

Mrs Macdonald, who lives in Inverness with husband Murdo, 77, a retired fisherman and builder, added: “It’s lovely that my father is being recognised after all those years.”

A total of 19 police officers are already on the memorial.

Stu McAllister, from the Scottish Police Memorial Trust, said: “We were contacted by Pc Greenshields’ granddaughter who thought he might be eligible. Unfortunately, police records don’t generally go back that far. We checked various archives, and went to the Evening News as his daughter believed there had been an article written about his death.

“Once we received that article we were sure that he could be added to the memorial.”

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