ammunition to the firing line under the heaviest fire, until he
was wounded. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and
the Russian Order of St. George.
11480 Piper JOHN BRODIE, 2nd Highland Light Infantry.
This man was one of the party with the late Col. W. L. Brodie
when that officer won the V.C.
240881 Piper WILLIAM MACKENZIE, 6th Highland Light Infantry.
In the action of 12th July, 1915, in which the battalion captured
three lines of Turkish trenches in Gallipoli, Piper Mackenzie
went into action armed with a revolver and a shovel, displaying
great gallantry and doing great execution with both these weapons
until he was wounded.
1914 Piper KENNETH MACLENNAN, 7th Highland Light Infantry.
Was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal "for playing the
pipes during the attack (on the Turkish trenches, 12th July,
1915) and advancing with the line after his pipes had been
shattered by shrapnel, and heartening the wounded under fire"
(_London Gazette_). After his pipes had been broken he continued
to play on his chanter for some time. He then made several
journeys across the open to fetch water for the wounded under
heavy fire; and also brought up boxes of ammunition.
1901 Piper D. CAMERON, 7th Highland Light Infantry.
In the attack on the Turkish trenches on 12th July, 1915, Piper
Cameron played his company right up to the captured trenches
and was awarded a special mention in Divisional Orders (52nd
Division). On this occasion, while playing, he had a revolver
hanging from his wrist, and on reaching the trenches started
using it with good effect.
Piper DONALD MACFARLANE, 7th Highland Light Infantry.
In the same action in Gallipoli on 12th July, 1915, Piper
Macfarlane played his company through a bayonet charge and
continued doing so until a shell burst shattered his pipe drones.
He then devoted himself to giving water to the wounded.
Corpl. Piper ALLAN M'NICOL, 12th Highland Light Infantry.
During the fighting at Loos and Hill 70 Corpl. M'Nicol was
employed carrying an artillery observation flag, and signalling
successive positions to our guns as they were captured. For his
gallantry in action he was awarded the Military Medal.
15006 Pipe Major WILLIAM M'COMB, 16th Highland Light Infantry.
On 14th February, 1916, the Pipe Major, though stunned and sick
from a blow by a branch of a tree which had been hit by a shell,
went forward and dug out several men who had been buried. There
was heavy shell fire at the time. He was given the Military Medal.
12095 Piper (Pipe Major) THOMAS RICHARDSON, 16th Highland Light
Infantry.
Was awarded the Military Medal for gallant conduct at Roupy in
the night of 2nd April, 1917, when the company in support was
heavily shelled and casualties were heavy. "Pipe Major Richardson
organised carrying parties and showed an utter disregard of
danger under the continuous fire of heavy guns."
Pipe Major B. M'DONALD, Highland Light Infantry.
An ammunition dump having caught fire he went in under heavy
machine gun and shell fire and succeeded in dragging out boxes
of bombs and throwing them into a shell crater full of water.
By this means he stopped the conflagration. At the time he had
just been given a commission, and he received for this action the
Military Cross.
16094 Pipe Major YOUNG GILBERT, 17th Highland Light Infantry.
On the 1st July, 1916, the battalion crawled up to within 100
yards of the Leipzig redoubt and rushed the latter when the
barrage lifted, and held on. The position was a very perilous
one, and the C.O. called on the Pipe Major to play to the men.
This he at once did and continued doing so, with the most
stimulating effect on the battalion. For this action he was
awarded the Military Medal.
5495 Piper JAMES RITCHIE, 2nd Gordon Highlanders.
On the 14th July, 1916, the battalion had to attempt the capture
of the road from High Wood to Longueval. Advancing beyond the
first objective they advanced further and tried to dig in, but
came under deadly fire from flank and rear. Of the two leading
platoons only one wounded officer and five men ever got back.
Piper Ritchie volunteered to carry a message to regimental
headquarters and bring up reinforcements. He did this twice. He
was awarded the Military Medal.
6349 Pipe Major CHARLES ANDERSON, 2nd Gordon Highlanders.
Was awarded the Military Medal. His C.O. writes: "Has done
splendid work throughout; his cheerfulness and gallantry have
been at all times most marked, and he was a splendid example to
all until he was severely wounded at Hulluch on 25th September,
1915."
6863 Piper R. STEWART, 2nd Gordon Highlanders.
From the commencement of the war Piper Stewart's gallantry was
repeatedly brought to notice and especially during the fighting
in October and November, 1914, and at Ypres. He was specially
promoted to Sergeant and awarded the D.C.M. and the Russian Order
of St. George for bringing up ammunition under particularly
trying circumstances at Ypres. He was killed at Loos.
Pipe Major (Sergt. Major) ANGUS MACLEAN, 2nd Gordon Highlanders.
Rejoined his old battalion on the outbreak of war and was
transferred from the pipes to a company as sergeant major. He was
awarded the Military Medal for "conspicuous courage and ability
in organising work under very dangerous conditions."
THE 2ND GORDON HIGHLANDERS IN ITALY.
In the summer of 1918 the pipers, during the offensive, were
attached for duty to the 23rd Field Ambulance. All the wounded
had to be carried across a deep and very rapid burn, which was
difficult to get across for a single man. These pipers, however,
with four men to a stretcher and four more to steady them, and
without their kilts and hose, succeeded in getting large numbers
of casualties over. They stood in the water for many hours.
Subsequently they went out to look for wounded and brought in
many more. "But for the work of the pipers and drummers it would
have been impossible to evacuate the wounded that night."
Piper GEORGE PATERSON, 4th Gordon Highlanders.
In the fighting outside Cambrai in November, 1917, Piper Paterson
played the battalion into action and charged in three successive
waves; he also played it into Cantanig under heavy fire. Here he
was wounded. He was awarded the Military Medal.
Piper WILLIAM WEBSTER, 4th Gordon Highlanders.
In the face of heavy fire during the retirement in March, 1918,
repeatedly brought up ammunition to men in the front line. Was
awarded the Military Medal.
Piper P. BOWIE, }
Piper P. PATERSON, } 4th Gordon Highlanders.
Piper R. PRENTICE, }
Piper G. DAVIDSON, }
In the Ypres fighting on 31st July, 1917, Piper Bowie rallied the
men at a time when things were looking very bad. He was awarded
the Military Medal. At the Marne, too, he and Pipers P. Paterson,
R. Prentice, and G. Davidson played their companies into action
"and the example set by them roused the troops to further efforts
to force the enemy from a difficult position and enabled them to
gain a great victory."
1985 Piper CHARLES THOMSON, 5th Gordon Highlanders.
At Festubert Piper Thomson showed great courage as an observer,
and repeatedly crossed a heavily shelled zone, which was
also under fire by snipers, carrying messages to battalion
headquarters.
Piper H. LUNAM, 5th Gordon Highlanders.
In the action at High Wood on 18th July, 1916, Piper Lunam "very
heroically played his company into action in face of heavy
machine gun fire and a heavy enemy barrage. He got no official
recognition, but the thanks and respect of his comrades who
followed him."
10115 Pipe Major J. HOWARTH, 6th Gordon Highlanders.
During the fighting at Loos Pipe Major Howarth was acting as
orderly to the commanding officer, and, in the course of the
advance, was wounded in the feet. A shell had burst and knocked
over a dozen of our men and he at once went off to give first
aid. On the way he saw Captain ---- of the 2nd Gordons lying
wounded. As, on account of his own wound, he was unable to carry
the wounded officer in, he took off his own puttees, wound them
round his knees as a protection, took Captain ---- on his back
and crawled back on hands and knees to our own line.
Pipe Major Howarth had already received the D.C.M. for his
gallantry in tending the wounded at Neuve Chapelle. For his
action on this occasion he was awarded a bar to the medal.
10700 Piper W. BANNERMAN, 6th Gordon Highlanders.
In the fighting at Givenchy on 2nd June, 1915, some of the pipers
were employed in the ranks. Piper Bannerman was mentioned in
despatches for great gallantry in leading a bayonet charge.
Piper (Sergt.) PETER DEAN, 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
When serving in the ranks as a machine gun sergeant he worked his
gun alone in an exposed position when the rest of the gun team
had all been killed or wounded. He was awarded the Distinguished
Conduct Medal.
3162 Piper WILLIAM CARLYLE, 6th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
After a bayonet charge at Festubert on 16th June, 1915, the
battalion was lying on the ground under heavy fire. Near the
enemy's line was a wounded man. Piper Carlyle crept out on hands
and knees to try and bring him in; just as he reached the man
and had started to lift him, he was killed. Piper Carlyle was
mentioned in despatches.
Piper JOHN WALLS, 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Was awarded the Military Medal for devotion to duty as battalion
runner through the barrages on 23/24th July, 1915.
Pipe Major J. WILSON, 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
On the 8th April, 1916, a German raiding party of considerable
strength entered our trenches in the Labyrinth after the
explosion of several mines which inflicted heavy casualties. Pipe
Major Wilson at once organised a counter attack and drove out the
enemy. He received a Divisional certificate of gallant conduct.
266 Piper GEORGE SHEARER, 9th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
When employed as a bearer on 24th May, 1915, brought in a
wounded man out of No Man's Land under particularly difficult
circumstances, and was awarded the D.C.M.
4627 Pipe Major THOMAS AITKEN, 10th Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders.
During the fighting at Longueval in July, 1916, although a man
of sixty years of age, Pipe Major Aitken, at his own request,
acted as orderly to the commanding officer for the whole day;
he was ultimately wounded. He was awarded the Distinguished
Conduct Medal "for conspicuous gallantry on this and many other
occasions."
6191 Piper J. DALL, }
2616 Piper D. WILSON, } 10th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
When the battalion attacked Longueval it was met by heavy
machine gun fire, which caused very severe casualties. Part of
the enemy wire had been left uncut by our bombardment, and this
caused momentary confusion in the ranks, as it was very dark.
The advance was held up by some ruined dwellings in the streets
of the village which had been turned into machine gun nests.
Pipers Dall and Wilson at once started playing, and in spite
of the noise of shell fire all round them, they succeeded in
rallying the men, and in leading an attack which proved to be
irresistible. Piper Dall was wounded. Piper Wilson was awarded a
mention in despatches.
569 Piper G. GAMACK, 10th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Received the Military Medal for great gallantry in evacuating
casualties during the storming of the St. Quentin Canal, Sept.,
1918.
Pipe Major DONALD MACFARLANE, 11th Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders.
In the action of Loos the Pipe Major was employed as a despatch
runner carrying messages back from Hill 70. He continued doing
this though severely wounded in the arm. He was recommended for
the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Piper CHARLES HOEY, }
Piper J. BARNETT, } 11th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Piper T. WALLACE, }
In the attack at Loos these men all played their companies into
action. Piper Barnett was killed while doing so.
Piper CHARLES CAMERON, 11th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
When the battalion attacked Hill 70 on 25th September, 1915, the
pipers led their companies and suffered heavy casualties. The
15th Division hung on to the slope of the hill until next day,
but ultimately had to fall back, being heavily counter-attacked.
The men of different units got mixed up in the hand to hand
fighting which ensued, and it was necessary to rally them in
their own units. Piper Cameron stood under heavy fire playing,
and rallied the men of the 11th. His bravery resulted in his
being known in the division as "The Piper of Loos."
598 Corpl. Piper R. STEVENSON, 12th Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders.
Many of the pipers of this battalion were employed as scouts,
and Corpl. Stevenson rendered particularly good service in
this capacity, especially in August, 1918, when, in spite of
heavy enemy fire, he went forward and carried out a successful
reconnaissance of the wire on the enemy's trenches. For this he
got the Military Medal.
139 Corpl. Piper H. G. LATHAM, 1st London Scottish.
On account of heavy losses at Messines the pipers of this
battalion during the early part of the war were employed in
the ranks. Corpl. Latham was a crack shot and had got into the
final stage of the King's Hundred at the Bisley Camp in 1914.
He was accordingly employed as a sniper with much success. He
took a prominent part in the bayonet attack at Messines. He was
killed at Zillebeke 16th November, 1914. Was awarded a mention in
despatches.
Piper SYDNEY WILSON, Liverpool Scottish.
This man served in the ranks. He was awarded the certificate for
gallantry on three separate occasions.
290 Pipe Major JOHN WILSON, } 1st Tyneside Scottish.
1525 Piper GEORGE TAYLOR, }
Both these men received the Military Medal for bravery in playing
their battalion into action at La Boiselle on 1st July, 1916.
The whole of the pipers of this and the 2nd Battalion took part
in this, one of the most spectacular attacks on the Somme; and
their behaviour was an inspiration to the men. They were exposed
to very heavy fire and to every sort of obstacle on the ground,
but went on playing after ten pipers had been killed and five
wounded. 1525 Piper James Phillips of the 2nd Battalion, after
having his pipes shattered, started bombing the German trenches.
He was mentioned in despatches.
Sergt. JOHN MACDONALD, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light
Infantry.
At Hooge on 8th May, 1915, after a front trench had been
obliterated by shell fire, Sergt. Macdonald dug out two wounded
men who had been buried, and carried one on his back and assisted
the other to a place of safety under very heavy shell and rifle
fire. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. In Sept.,
1916, he died of wounds.
24011 Lance Corpl. J. DYCE, 13th Royal Highlanders of Canada.
During the Ypres fighting in April, 1915, Corporal Dyce was
employed as a despatch runner and had to cross ground heavily
bombarded by the enemy. While doing so he was shot through
the chest, and became unconscious; on coming to, knowing the
importance of the despatch he was carrying, he started crawling
in to deliver it at battalion headquarters, collapsing when he
arrived there. He was mentioned in despatches.
29327 Pipe Major JAMES GROAT, 16th Canadian Scottish.
In the attack on the Vimy Ridge Pipe Major Groat and the pipers
of the battalion played them to the attack, Groat accompanying
the commanding officer. They had to advance over a mile under
terrific fire. On this occasion he received the Military Medal.
Subsequently, in the attack on Hill 70 on 15th August, 1918,
he again led the battalion and was awarded a bar to the Medal;
and on 2nd September, 1918, at Arras, he got the Distinguished
Conduct Medal for a similar action. He had played the battalion
through five successful attacks when he was finally wounded.
28930 Piper JAMES RICHARDSON, V.C., 16th Canadian Scottish.
At Festubert in May, 1915, he showed the greatest gallantry in
carrying despatches, and also saved a wounded comrade's life.
In the attack on the Regina trench on 8th October, 1916, he
played his company to the attack. When they got near the enemy's
position very heavy wire entanglements were encountered, which
took a considerable time to cut through; while this was being
carried out Piper Richardson marched up and down outside the
wire playing, while the men were falling all round him. When the
wire had been cut he continued at the head of his company, and
played the "Reel of Tulloch" on the German parapet, followed
by the "Deil in the Kitchen" as the battalion started bombing
the dugouts. At this moment the Company Sergeant Major was
dangerously wounded and Richardson volunteered to take him
out. He successfully accomplished this and then said he must
go back to fetch his pipes which he had left behind in the
captured trench. He never returned and must have been killed. The
Commanding Officer[13] writes of him: "I really think his V.C.
performance was one of the great deeds of the war. The conditions
were those of indescribable peril and terror. The lad's whole
soul was bound up in the glory of piping, and he was only taken
into action after imploring his colonel with tears in his eyes.
Altogether a most wonderful example of high souled courage and
enthusiasm."
A year after Piper Richardson's death he was awarded a posthumous
Victoria Cross.
28557 Piper ALEXANDER M'GILLIVRAY, }
29048 Piper ALLAN CAMERON M'NAB, }
429603 Piper GEORGE PAUL, }
466703 Piper JOHN M'ALLISTER, }
603174 Piper GORDON CRUICKSHANK, } 16th Canadian Scottish.
467573 Piper ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, }
737176 Piper JOHN M'LEAN, }
633179 Piper ARCHIBALD M'DOWELL. }
The whole of these men received the Military Medal for playing
their companies into action on different occasions. No man was
ever recommended for reward unless he had played into action on
three different occasions, and every man had to volunteer for the
duty. As a matter of fact so keen was the competition that lots
had to be drawn to decide who should play.
429603 Piper GEORGE PAUL, 16th Canadian Scottish.
After winning the Military Medal for his gallantry in playing his
company to the attack on Hill 70 on 15th August, 1918, Piper Paul
went into action at Amiens playing on top of the tank "Dominion."
While doing so he was killed. His action on this occasion roused
the wildest enthusiasm among his comrades and contributed greatly
to the success of the operation.
59224 Corpl. WILLIAM CURRIE, 21st Canadians.
On several occasions Corpl. Currie showed extraordinary gallantry
in bringing in wounded men from positions in which any attempt at
rescue appeared hopeless, on account of the heavy fire brought
to bear on any one trying to approach. The last man rescued by
Corpl. Currie had been shot by a sniper and was lying in a trench
only a foot deep. Currie succeeded in getting him away although
he was badly wounded in the process. He was several times
complimented officially and was finally specially promoted and
awarded the Military Medal. He subsequently got a Commission and
won the Military Cross for gallantry.
60115 Piper HUGH MACKENZIE, 21st Canadians.
At Hill 70 volunteers were called for to bring in a man who was
lying wounded in No Man's Land. Mackenzie was one of three who
volunteered to get him; two of these men were killed. Mackenzie
was given the Military Medal.
Piper W. BRAND, } 25th Canadians.
Piper WALTER TELFER, }
In the attack on the Vimy Ridge 9th April, 1917, these two pipers
played their companies into action. Telfer was so badly wounded
that his leg had subsequently to be amputated, but continued
playing, until he fell. Both of them were awarded the Military
Medal.
1246 Piper JOHN MACDONALD, 1st Canadian Machine Gun Corps.
During an action the attack was held up and most of the teams
of the machine guns were killed. Piper Macdonald succeeded
in pushing forward to the objective with a gun and held on
until dark. He was the last to leave, carrying the gun on his
shoulders. For this he was promoted Quartermaster Sergeant, and
was awarded the Military Medal.
Pipe Major ALEXANDER GRIEVE, }
Piper J. WATERHOUSE, } South African Scottish.
Piper A. GRAY, }
When the Germans advanced on the Cambrai front in March, 1918,
the pipers were frequently called upon to serve in the ranks in
various capacities. At Houdincourt they were suddenly required to
reinforce a position and piled their pipes on the ground. A shell
burst destroyed the whole of the pipes. For gallantry when acting
as despatch runners Pipe Major Grieve got the D.C.M. and Pipers
Waterhouse and Gray the Military Medal.
Pipe Major J. ROBERTSON, 2nd Auckland Regiment.
The pipers served in the ranks. Pipe Major Robertson received the
D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry at Bapaume.
Piper A. AITKEN, } 42nd Australians.
Piper R. GILLESPIE, }
These men were employed as scouts and both received the Military
Medal for valuable observation work prior to the action at
Messines in June, 1917.
FOREIGNERS AND THE PIPES
Brought in contact as Scottish troops have been with those of our
Allies it is not surprising that military pipers have attracted the
attention of observers and writers who, before the war, knew nothing
of their existence. From the early days of the war the pipes, the
tartan and the kilt aroused the liveliest interest in France; and
perhaps the sincerest tribute to them is the fact that, in their
caricatures of the nations, the Germans usually depicted the British
soldier as a particularly unattractive Highlander.
At first the French writers were mildly sarcastic about the players
of the "cornemuse," and regarded them as an amiable weakness of the
comrades of the "auld alliance"; but gradually they discovered that
pipes and tartan were the outward and visible signs of a spirit which
won their whole-hearted admiration, and then their attitude changed.
Describing an attack by the 51st Division a French observer wrote:
"Resolutely they crossed what seemed to be impossible ground ... they
charged to the shrill sounds of the bagpipes ... they charged like
heroes of Walter Scott--_leurs bonnets à rubans et leur jupes de
danseuses_."
Though the Breton bignon, the cornemuse, the German dudelsackpfeife
are no longer--if they ever were--instruments of war, the instinctive
admiration for the pipes remains in the most unexpected quarters;
and in France, Flanders, Italy, the Balkans, and even the occupied
portions of Germany, "_piob mhor_" has aroused race memories long
dormant. One effect of this is the demand which has recently arisen
in Italy for pipes from this country; another is the fact that the
French Government have added a painting of a piper by a French artist
to the official collection of war pictures.
American observers were often very ignorant of the mysteries of
the bagpipe. A writer in the _Boston Evening Transcript_, after
eulogising the piper as a military institution, informs his readers
that in the hands of a really skilled performer the strains of the
pipes can be heard for a distance of six miles against the wind or
ten miles if the conditions are favourable. The writer may have been
of M'Crimmon descent, but his enthusiasm exceeded his powers of
observation.
One thing is quite certain, viz., whatever their inmost feelings
regarding the musical qualities of the pipes, foreigners generally
appreciate their military value in war and share the opinion of the
court-martial in 1746 that they must be regarded as an "instrument of
war."
The Germans certainly were not slow in forming an estimate of the
military value of the piper. From a very early stage in the war
they learned to associate the instrument with a type of troops for
whose mentality, as exhibited in the attack, they had more respect
than sympathy, and the piper at once became a marked man whenever he
went over the top. The casualties among pipers while playing would
of themselves suggest that this was the case; but the statements of
officer prisoners show that orders were given to pick off pipers
for precisely the same reason as officers commanding platoons or
companies.
THE PIPES IN CAPTIVITY