Scotland

Navy Officer Honoured For Service 70 Years After Death

Kathleen Pollock receives the Elizabeth Cross 210219 CREDIT East Dunbartonshire Council .jpg

Kathleen Pollock received the Elizabeth Cross from East Dunbartonshire Provost Alan Brown (Picture: East Dunbartonshire Council).

The service of a Navy officer who was killed in action has been honoured nearly 70 years after his death.

At a ceremony in Bearsden, Leading Seaman William Moir’s daughter, Kathleen Pollock, was presented with the Elizabeth Cross in recognition of her father’s service.

William Moir 210219 CREDIT East Dunbartonshire Council.jpg — Leading Seaman William Moir served in the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War (Picture: East Dunbartonshire Council).

The Elizabeth Cross was created in 2009 to be awarded to the next of kin of servicemen and women who are killed on operations or as a result of terrorism.

Leading Seaman Moir died on 20th April 1949 on HMS Consort at the age of 28.

He had been fighting communists along the River Yangtze and had joined the Royal Navy 13 years previously.

"I was only three when my Dad died but his memory has always been kept very much alive in the family," Ms Pollock said.

"I am incredibly proud of his naval career and was honoured to accept the Elizabeth Cross, memorial scroll and Malaya clasp today while once again honouring and remembering what he and so many others sacrificed for this country."

Kathleen Pollock awarded Elizabeth Cross 210219 CREDIT East Dunbartonshire Council .jpg — Kathleen Pollock lost her father when she was only three-years-old (Picture: East Dunbartonshire Council).

East Dunbartonshire Provost Alan Brown, who presented the award on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, said: "It was an honour and privilege to meet the family of Leading Seaman Moir and to learn about his life and service.

"For his war service, he received the 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Africa Star and the War Medal, accepting these just two months before his death.

"In July 1951 his widow, Janet, was presented with the Yangtze Medal. It was my humble duty to add the Elizabeth Cross and memorial scroll to that remarkable list of honours."

Leading Seaman Moir was born in Alnwick, Northumberland in 1921 and served on HMS Royal Oak during the Second World War.

Afterwards he also served on HMS Cardiff and visited Gibraltar and Malta.

He married his wife, Janet, in January 1951 and his service is commemorated with plaques in the British Embassy in China and in St Nicholas' Church, HMS Drake Royal Naval Barracks in Plymouth.