Superintendents/Chief Constables (CC)
1832 – 1840 Alfred John List
1840 – 1893 CC George Henry List (CC Berwickshire*)
1894 – 1914 CC Lt. Col. Alexander Borthwick**
1914 – 1950 CC Maj. Sholto Douglas**
*Indicates CCs were responsible for multiple constabularies.
**From 19 January 1894, East, West and Mid Lothian Constabularies and Peebles County Constabulary remained separate forces, but were administered by a single CC.
On 16 May 1950, all four forces amalgamated to become Lothians & Peebles Constabulary, under Chief Constable William Merrilees.
East Lothian Constabulary
King Edward VII Police (Scotland) Medal 1903
King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal 1911
Peter Haig was born on 23 October 1861 near Jedburgh in the County of Roxburgh.
He was a Ploughman when he married Jessie Ellen Scott at Crailing in the County of Roxburgh in 1882.
He joined East Lothian Constabulary on 31 March, 1887 and was posted to Dunbar Police Station.
He was stationed at Garvald in 1891 and East Linton in 1896.
By 1901, he was back in Dunbar as Acting Sergeant. It was there that his wife, Jessie, died in 1907.
On 16 December, 1910, Police Sergeant Peter Haig of the Police Station, Tranent, married Christina Fairburn at Coldstream in the County of Berwick.
Acting PS Peter Haig retired from East Lothian Constabulary on 15 April, 1921 with 34 years. His annual Pension was £168, 3/8d (£168. 18p).
Christina died in Coldstream in 1934 aged 66.
Peter Haig died in Coldstream on 18 November, 1940 aged 79.
(Picture of PS Haig courtesy of East Lothian Council Archives)
Sergeant Haig's Medal Ribbons
In an invoice dated 3 October, 1912, a ‘Military Contractor, Manufacturer and Warehouseman’ called A. C. Heath of 1-5 Barrack Road, Hounslow, London billed PC John Hastie of East Lothian Constabulary based at the Burgh Police Office in Tranent for “1 yard each of 1911 and 1903 Scottish Police medal ribbons @ 1/- a yard”.
The ribbon was enclosed in the brown envelope shown on the left addressed to PC Hastie at Tranent. Within the envelope was a smaller envelope addressed to ‘Sgt. Haig’ with the number ‘2’ presumably meaning the number of ribbons.
The actual ribbons can also be seen in a picture included here.
The envelope addressed to ‘Sgt. Haig’ is in the same handwriting as that on the envelope shown under PC Alexander Harper and which is addressed as “Pc Harper, Medal Ribbons, 2”.
It is possible PC Hastie did a bulk order for a few of the East Lothian officers?
Police Sergeant Peter Haig
King Edward VII Police (Scotland) Medal, 1903
King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal, 1911
Alexander Harper was born on 31 January, 1864 at Bridgefoot of Boyndie in the County of Banff. His father was James Gordon, an ‘Agricultural Labourer’ and his mother, Ann Forsyth or Harper. His parents were married on 23 January, 1864 at Banff.
Mary Ann Gordon was born 3 October, 1863 in the Parish of Cabrach in the County of Aberdeen (but which is in Banffshire).
On 6 December, 1884, after Banns according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland, Alexander Harper, Farm Servant, (20), married Mary Ann Gordon, Domestic Servant, (20), at Silverford in the Parish of Auchendoir and Kearn in the County of Aberdeen.
The couple had three children over the next five years, Ann Thomson Harper, born in Auchendoir, Aberdeenshire, Isabella Harper, born in Marnoch in Banff and Alexander Gordon Harper, born in Forgue in Aberdeenshire.
On 22 November, 1889, Alexander Harper was appointed to East Lothian Constabulary as a 3rdClass Constable and posted to Ormiston Police Station.
His Personnel Record shows that he was “24 years, 5’10.5”, 13 stones”, with “Blue eyes, Brown hair and Fresh complexion”.
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It was in the County Police Station in Ormiston on 6 February, 1890 that Mary Jessie Gordon Harper was born.
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The family were still there in the Census of 1891 and later that year, on 24 November, PC Harper was promoted to 2nd Class Constable.
He was transferred to Gifford in the Parish of Yester on 20 June, 1892. On 22 November that year, he was promoted to 1st Class Constable.
It was in Gifford that Maggie Forsyth Harper was born on 4 February, 1895 and, on 9 April, 1898, James Harper was born.
PC Harper was transferred to Gullane Police Station on 5 July, 1898.
In the Census of 1901, with the exception of Ann Thomson Harper, the rest of the family were now living at Hopetoun Place (Main door), Dirleton.
By the Census of 1911, only Alexander, Mary Ann, Maggie and James were living in Dirleton at 4 Hopetoun Place.
On 16 April, 1918 he was ‘Advanced to Merit Class’.
He retired on pension from East Lothian Constabulary “on completion of service” on 28 November, 1922.
At Belhaven Hospital, Dunbar on 24 September, 1942, Mary Ann Harper, (78) married to Alexander Harper, Police Constable (retired), died. Her husband of 42 Hopetoun Terrace in Gullane, registered her death.
On 6 January, 1943, at 40 Henderson Row, Portobello in Edinburgh, Alexander Harper, (78), Police Constable (Retired) and Widower of Mary Ann Gordon, died. His usual address was 42 Hopetoun Terrace, Gullane.
His son Alexander Harper of 40 Henderson Row, Portobello registered his death.
PC Alexander Harper
Memory Lane
Kepi badge - Victorian Crown
Kepi badge - King's Crown
Top Row: ELC Victorian & Edwardian Helmet plates.
Centre: ELC Edwardian Belt Clasp.
Bottom Row: ELC Collar Numbers.