Guardsman Terrence James Pirie was born in London on 22nd May 1938. When England entered World War 2 in 1939 his father joined the British Army and served in Tobruk. Terrence was an apprentice electric welder, until early in 1957 when he entered National Service assigned to the Grenadier Guards 3rd Battalion, Pioneer Platoon. He was stationed on the Finnish border and in Aden. He saw active service in Cyprus. He was discharged in 1959.
In 1963 Terrence completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and joined the Port of London Authority Police. In 1971 he migrated to Australia and joined the Victoria Police. He also joined the Australian Army Reserve as a member of the Commando Company stationed at Williamstown. Terrence progressed through police ranks and in 1981 while a Sergeant, he was taken off all other duties to be assigned as personal bodyguard to Queen Elizabeth 2nd during CHOGM. He then became Senior Sergeant in charge of a major metropolitan Police Station and in 1989 he was appointed by the Governor of Victoria as a Commissioned Officer (Inspector). For several years Terrence coordinated volunteer police across Victoria to provide security for the Salvation Army annual Red Shield Appeal and in 1994 received an Award at Government House. Other awards included a Community Australia Day Award, 1998 and a Victoria State Certificate of Appreciation International Year of Volunteers 2001. He was a member of the former Grenadier Guards Association in Melbourne and a long serving member of the Returned & Services League, Victorian Branch.
Terrence Pirie died on 11 August 2023 in Melbourne after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Robyn who he married in Australia in 1991, his son Ian and stepdaughter Erin, and his seven grandsons.