Ian Alexander Pirie

     Ian Alexander Pirie was born on 17 November 1928 at 28 Seafield Street, Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland.^1,2 He was the son of Alexander Pirie and Margaret Helen Cheyne.
Ian left school at the age of 13 and joined the steam drifter 'Sincere' BF 152, a herring fishing boat, as a cook. The following season, he served as cook on the steam drifter 'Ocean Crest' YH 876 and then as cook ordinary seaman on the motor fishing boat Kolbørn at Methil in Fife. From May 1946 until called up for National Service in January 1947 he served as fireman on the steam drifter 'Onward' BF 919.
Ian Alexander Pirie began National Service on 22 January 1947. He passed through assessment camp at HMS Royal Arthur, Corsham, Wiltshire and then underwent Ordinary Seaman training at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, Cornwall from Feb to May 1947 before reporting to the Royal Naval Barracks at HMS Pembroke, Chatham, Kent. Ian served on HMS Tyne, a destroyer depot ship moored in the River Orwell, as Ordinary Seaman from Jun to Oct 1947. He then served on HMS Anson, a King George V-class battleship, moored in Portland Harbour from Oct 1947 to Jun 1948. Ian served again on HMS Tyne as Able Seaman until Mar 1949. He returned to HMS Pembroke and on completing his National Service was released to reserve on 18 Apr 1949.
Ian briefly returned to herring fishing, serving as fireman on the steam drifter 'Onward' BF 919, before joining the Merchant Navy. He was an Air Traffic Engineer with the Civil Aviation Authority, maintaining radar installations at Dyce Aberdeen, Heathrow, Gatwick and Southend airports, and Clee Hill and Ash radar stations. He died on 9 February 2011 at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, Kent, England, at age 82.³ His body was cremated following a funeral service on 18 February 2011 at Thanet Crematorium, Manston Road, Margate, Kent, England. His ashes were interred on 29 July 2011 at Tothill Street, Minster-in-Thanet, Kent, England, at Minster Parish Cemetery.³

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