Stirling was commissioned a
second lieutenant in the
2nd Essex Regiment (56th Foot) on 9 November 1889, and was promoted to
lieutenant on 7 October 1892. He served in
British India, where he was a transport officer in the
Chitral Relief Force under Major-General Sir
Robert Low in 1895, then transport officer in the
Tirah Campaign on the
North-West Frontier 1897–98. For his service in the war, he was
mentioned in despatches, received the
Queen's South Africa Medal with four clasps and
King's South Africa Medal with two clasps, and was appointed a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Stirling served in the
Somaliland campaign, commanding the 7th Somali Camel Corps from 12 November 1903 to June 1904, for which he received the
Africa General Service Medal and clasp. and promoted
major in February 1912. He vacated this appointment in November 1914 to rejoin his regiment in France after the outbreak of
World War I. He was appointed
provost marshal to the 5th Army Corps in December 1914 and then promoted temporary
lieutenant colonel in November 1915, when he was given command of the 2nd Essex Regiment. Stirling was promoted temporary
colonel and served as Commandant, Lines of Communication, British Armies in France from October 1918. and full lieutenant colonel in June 1924. On retirement, Stirling took command of the 9th battalion of
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Territorial Army. ==Family==