David Alexander Peebles

Military Information

  • Date of enlistment: 26.01.1913
  • Place of enlistment:
  • Service no: 7553
  • Rank: Leading Seaman
  • Service Occupation:
  • Awards:
  • Regiment/Service: H.M.A.S. Australia
  • Unit/Ship: Royal Australian Navy
  • Place of Death: Scapa Flow
  • Age at Death: 37
  • Date of Death: 24.07.1915
  • Burial Country: Scotland
  • Cemetery: Osmondwall Cemetery, Orkney
  • Grave/Mem Ref no: D.71.

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth: 24.02.1880
  • Place of Birth: Dundee
  • Address: 3 Stewart Lane, Balmain, Sydney, Australia
  • Occupation:
  • Mother:

    Esther Peebles, 72 Hilltown, Dundee

  • Father:

    David Peebles, 72 Hilltown, Dundee

  • Siblings:

    John, Isabella & Agnes

  • Spouse:

    Mary H. Peebles, 3 Stewart Lane, Balmain, NSW, Australia.

  • Children:

    2 Children

More about David Alexander Peebles

David Peebles was born in Dundee and was the son of Mr David and Mrs Esther Peebles. He was the husband of Mrs Mary Peebles of 3 Stewart Lane, Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales. He joined the Royal Navy in June 1900, Service Number 185546, and did his initial training onboard HMS Caledonia, an old ship of the line moored in the River Forth. During his service he served in the following warships, HM Ships Edinburgh, Emperor of India, Jupiter, Champion, Severn, Scylla, Irresistible, Royal Arthur, Robin and Terrible before leaving the service in 1910. He was enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve and, in January 1913, he volunteered to serve with the Royal Australian Navy. He was drafted to the battlecruiser HMAS Australia on her first commission on 21 June 1913 and sailed in her on her delivery to Australia, via Cape Town. At some point he transferred to the RAN and was given a new service number. On the outbreak of war in August 1914 the Australia sailed to seize German held Pacific territories and then headed to South America searching for the German Pacific Squadron. The Australia headed south, rounded Cape Horn and made passage to Britain arriving in Plymouth in January 1915. The Australia proceeded to Rosyth on the Firth of Forth and was part of a Royal Navy battlecruiser squadron. David Peebles died of illness and is buried in the Osmandwall Cemetery, Hoy, Orkney, Grave Reference D71.

For reasons unknown this man is not listed on the original Dundee Roll of Honour.His cause of death was recorded as heart failure. For more information on David, visit his Service Record.

Also visit here.

David Peebles  7533 Australian Navy

A WOUNDED AUSTRALIAN’S DEATH.

A chaplain in a letter to Mrs Gowans, who resides at 22 Bernard Street, Dundee, states that her brother, A.B. David Peebles, attached to the Australian Navy and serving on H.M.A.S. Australia, has died suddenly.

The chaplain does not state if death occurred as the result of wounds, although it is known that Peebles was in hospital suffering from wounds in both legs and arm.

Deceased was a native of Dundee, and at one time resided at 150 Princes Street.  He served for 16 years in the British Navy, when he was transferred to the Australian Navy, with which he was connected for three years.  As a result of his transference his wife and family emigrated to Australia.  Peebles was 37 years of age, and leaves a widow and two of a family.

Dundee Courier 30th July 1915

Information supplied by Gary Thomson, additional information kindly supplied by Michael Caldwell

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