Educated at Tulloch's Academy at Bellevue and then to Royal Military Academy at Woolwich where after two years study, took a high place in the exit examination. Shortly afterwards, he was drafted to India, and was assigned a lieutenancy in a field battery in the North-West Punjaub and then served in the Afghan War of 1878-80 and was mentioned in despatches. In 1882 was promoted to the captaincy of a field battery and in 1890 took the rank of major. In 1895 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order by Queen Victoria at Balmoral. In 1897 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was also well known as an enthusiastic and daring sportsman. He had written numerous articles on sport in India. He drowned whilst fishing in Darjiling. He as buried in Jellapahar, in India. A memorial tablet on the East Wall of Nigg Church Aberdeen states "He was a brave and gallant Scot who served his country well in many campaign on the frontier of India".

"SHIRRES, Major and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Chivas, D.S.O., R.A. ; commanding No. 8 Mountain Battery; b. Loriston House, Kincardineshire, 11 Jan 1854; 2nd s. of D.L. Shirres, J.P., and Agnes, d. of late J. Smyth, W.S. Educ: privately. First commission in Royal Artillery, 1873; Capt. 1882; Major, 1890; Brevet Liet.-Col. 1898; served in Afghan Campaign. 1878 - 80, including actions at Peiwar-Kotul, Chapri, Matun, Shuturgardan, Cabul, Sheripore, Hissarah (three times mentioned in despatches, medal and two clasps); Waziri Expedition, 1881; Aka Expedition, 1883-4; action of Tanga Pain (mentioned in despatches); Tsugin Expedition, 1892; Chitral Expedition, 1895; actions of Malakand, Swat River, Panjkora (mentioned in despatches, medal and clasp); Tirah Expedition, 1897-98; actions of Chazru Kotul, Dargal, Sanpayka, Arhanga, Bagh, Waran, Sran Sar; operations in Tirah and Bara Valley; actions of Dwatri, Rajghul Valley, and Spin Kamar (Brevet Lieut.-Colonel; two clasps). Decorated for services in Chitral Expedition. Recreations: hunting, shooting, fishing, riding. Address: No 8 Mountain Battery, India. Died 31 March 1899."

"Lieutenant-Colonel Shirres was a son of the late Mr D.L. Shirres. He was educated at Tulloch's Academy at Bellevue - a school which had a considerable reputation for the number of young men it sent to the army - and having there conceived a marked inclination for military life, his studies were specially directed with a view to entering the army. He was a pupil in mathematics of Dr. Rennet. In 1874 he proceeded to Woolwich, where he continued his military preparations, and, after two years study, took a high place in the exit examination. Shortly afterwards, he was drafted to India, and was assigned a lieutenancy in a field battery of native troops in the North-West Punjaub. For a short period the deceased officer occupied a military post in the Madras presidency, but with that exception he continued his work of organising the troops in the Punjaub. While still a lieutenant, he served in the Afghan War of 1878-80 and was present at the capture of Peiwar Kotai; at the forcing of the Sapri Pass, in the engagement at Mattoon, and at the assault on the Shutargardan. His services at the latter place were so distinguished that he was mentioned in despatches, whilst his gallantry at the taking of the Peiwar Pass received favourable mention, the young officer being personally thanked by Sir Frederick now Lord Roberts. At the Peiwar Pass engagement, Captain Kelso, who was in command of the battery to which Lieutenant Shirres was attached, was unfortunately killed in action. In the operations around Cabul Lieutenant Shirres was also engaged, his services at the investment of Sherpore and with the expedition into the Hissarik Valley being rewarded with the Cabul medal and two clasps. In another expedition, the Mahsood Wuzeree of 1881, he also served with distinction. In the following year he was promoted to the captaincy of a field battery. Captain Shirres afterwards saw a great deal of fighting, principally in connection with the subjection of the frontier tribes, and in 1883-4 he accompanied the Akha expedition and was present in the engagement at Tanga Pani, where he was again mentioned in despatches. In 1890 the gallant officer took the rank of major, and in 1892 served with the Isazar field force. His subsequent military engagements included his command of No 8 Mountain Battery in the Chitral Releif Force under Sir Robert Low in 1895, and for his brilliant services in this connection he was mentioned in despatches, obtained the medal with clasp, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. The Chitral campaign although short was severe. The operations of the expedition precluded the full equipment of the mountain batteries being provided, and before the Malakand Pass had been reached many difficulties had to be overcome. In the famous fight in the pass, Major Shirres's battery came into action and greatly contributed to bring about the success of the expedition at this point. At the Swat River, also, the guns of the mountain battery rendered effective service under trying circumstances. Quite recently the deceased officer was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He not only proved himself a gallant officer, but he was also well known as an enthusiastic and daring sportsman. He had written numerous articles on sport in India - Daily Free Press"

"The relatives of the late Colonel Shirres, R.A. of Aberdeen, have now received details of his death by drowning in the Rungeet River, Darjiling, on the last day of March. The Calcutta "Englishman" contains the following report of the lamentable occurrence from its correspondent at Darjiling whose communication is dated 8th April:-

The inquest on the body of Colonel Shirres R.A., drowned in the Rungeet River on Friday 31st March, was held at the Police Thana on Wednesday last by Mr Earle, deputy commissioner; and Mr Shuldam Shaw, the district superintendent of police, being also present. The body had been found that morning. The evidence of the two witnesses available (another boy having been found who had seen the disaster) proved that the colonel, in endeavouring to wade across the Rungeet got out of his depth. He then holding his fishing rod up in one hand, swam, but at the junction of the river Rahman with the Rungeet he suddenly disappeared, evidently carried under by the swift current of the Rungeet. This second witness reports that he saw the colonel rise, breast high, in the middle of the junction of the rivers for a moment but he did not appear again. The body showed a severe bruise on the head, and it is surmised that when he first sank he hit his head against a rock which disabled him, for he was a very powerful swimmer. The body was found one mile below the place of the accident. Some of the battery men, assisted by police, went slowly in a boat down stream, carefully and systematically probing the bed of the river with long bamboos (the waters of the Rahman being so muddy as to completely obscure the river bed from vision), and thus after a long and patient search, the body of the colonel was found wedged in under a log of wood among rocks and sand in the bottom of the river. This concluded the evidence, and a verdict of accidental death by drowning was returned.

The funeral took place at Jellapahar on Thursday morning at ten o'clock with full military honours. All the troops from Lebong and Jellapahar depots were present. The spectacle, as viewed from the ridge above, was most mournfully imposing, stretching up the steep hillside in a long winding line formed by the narrow roadway. First came the Munsters, about 300 strong with sloped arms, followed by their band playing slow and solemn music. Then came the coffin, borne by eight men of the 9th Battery, covered in a Union Jack. On either side marched Captain Stanton, R.A.; Major Wallace, Captain Holland, D.S.O.; and Major Omerod, followed by the 8th Mountain Battery, of which Colonel Shirres was commanding officer, and with them those of the 8th Battery, who still remain at Kuttapahar. Behind these the depot men of the King's Own Scottish Borderers and Black Watch and Gloucesters and at the end Mr Nolan C.S. commissioner and Mr Shaw, who represented the civil population. The funeral cortege was met at the gate of the cemetery by the Rev C. Palmer, chaplin, the band playing the Dead March in "Saul" as they approached. Mr Palmer read the funeral service at the conclusion of which the Munsters fired three volleys over the grave.