STIRLING, WALTER FRANCIS, Captain,
was born 31 Jan 1880, at Portsmouth, Hampshire, son of Captain Francis
Stirling, RN, and Mrs Frances Stirling, of Hampton Court Palace. He was
educated at Kelly College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and
joined the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers as Second Lieutenant 11 February 1899;
became Lieutenant 16 December 1899. He served with the Natal Field Force in
South Africa with his regiment; with the 4th Division, Mounted Infantry, in
Dundonald's Brigade; was afterwards appointed Adjutant, 14th Battalion
Mounted Infantry. He took part in the Relief of Ladysmith; was present
during operations in the Transvaal in June 1900; operations in Natal (March
to June 1900), including action at Laing's Nek (6 to 9 June); in the
Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900, including action at
Belfast (20 and 27 August); in Orange River Colony (June 1900), and again in
the Transvaal, December 1900 to May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches
[London Gazette, 28 January 1902]; received the Queen's Medal with five
clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps. The Distinguished Service
Order was specially awarded in Army Orders [London Gazette, 28 January
1902]: "Walter Francis Stirling, Lieutenant, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
For skill and gallantry in action at Kafferspruit 19 December 1901". He was
invested by the King 18 December 1902. He joined the Egyptian Army 22
August 1906; was promoted Captain 21 June 1908, and retired from the Service
20 January 1912; was Secretary of the Khedival Sporting Club, Cairo. At the
outbreak of the European War Captain Stirling was gazetted Observer in the
Royal Flying Corps in Egypt. He afterwards rejoined the 1st Battalion Royal
Dublin Fusiliers, 29th Division, in Gallipoli, as Second-in-Command, in
April 1915. He was appointed GSO2, Intelligence, GHQ, Egypt, 1916, and
afterwards GSO2 to 52nd Lowland Division. He served on the General Staff
until 1918; was promoted Major, Reserve of Officers, 18 January 1917; became
Deputy Chief Political Officer, Egypt and Syria. For his services in the
European War Major Stirling was mentioned in Despatches, and was awarded the
Military Cross and a Bar to the DSO.
