William Rae

William Rae (1869 – 27 November 1904) was a Scottish firefighter who served in the Glasgow Fire Brigade.

Rae responded to tackle a fire on North British Railway premises in Glasgow on 24 November 1904 where he was seriously injured by an exploding boiler. He died of his injuries three days later.

Rae was memorialized in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Firefighters' Heritage Trail where one of the twelve plaques is dedicated to him.

Exploding gas cylinders burnt Rae from the shoulders upwards, although his eyesight was not damaged.

Death

On 27 November 1904, at the age of 35 years, Rae died of his injuries at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Lord Provost Sir John Ure Primrose as well as representatives from Edinburgh, Paisley and Greenock fire brigades attended Rae's funeral on 30 November 1904. His coffin was carried by horse and ladder carriage to the Glasgow Necropolis, where he was buried.

A memorial plaque for Rae is part of the Fire Fighter Heritage Trail on Hunter Street, Glasgow.