they were never allowed to take their instruments with them into
captivity. Gradually, as "comforts," pipes were sent out to
individual officers and men; and the following letter from an officer
of the Gordon Highlanders who was at Friedberg Camp, indicates how
popular pipe music became among his fellow-prisoners of the Allied
armies.
[Illustration: PIPER KENNETH MACKAY, CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
AT QUATRE-BRAS
_From the Painting by Lockhart Bogle, by kind permission of the
Officers of the 1st Cameron Highlanders_]
"FRIEDBERG, 11/1/1917.
Though only a young player I play here every day and do not find
people too hostile to me. The Russians, French and even the
Germans greet me with great interest and seem to find pleasure
in listening to me--though as I said I am no great player; the
most unsympathetic are always to be found among the ranks of the
"Sassenach." I learnt to play in 1911, on joining my Regiment,
under George MacLennan, who was Pipe-Major at that time. While on
leave in Edinburgh I used to have lessons with his father--Jno.
MacLennan. Up till now I have only attempted "The Glen is
mine" and "Struan Robertson" in Piobaireachd, but having been
thoroughly taught by the MacLennans I naturally follow their
way of thinking. Yesterday I played to a Russian who is a
very good player of the piano. He was delighted with the Pipes
and I could not play too many tunes for him. Strathspeys and
Reels are greatly appreciated by all our Russian friends. Last
St. Andrew's Day we organized an Exhibition of dancing which was
a complete success. As the Scottish Colony here is so small we
asked the Russians to come and help us. This they did right well
with dances and songs, the music being provided, in both cases,
by "Balalaika," or Russian national instrument. For our part we
danced two foursome Reels (dancing two different sets of steps),
a Sword Dance and a Highland Schottische. In the latter dance we
each took a Russian as a partner, they having been trained up
for the event. We sang "Bonnie Dundee," "Lassies of Scotland,"
"MacPherson," and finished up with "Auld Lang Syne." For the
Reels my Russian friend provided the music on the piano. Our
costume was of course improvised. Kilt, shoes and hose we had,
we wore white shirts with lace cuffs, a strip of tartan fastened
with a brooch at the shoulder to do duty as a plaid and a black
velvet band with a lace ruffle, falling down in front, round our
necks. Our sporrans, with the exception of one which was made
out of a local rabbit, all came from home. I had several pretty
compliments paid to me by the Russians and French, both on our
costume and dancing. Five of us took part altogether. I wonder
if it would be too much to ask you to send me instructions for
dancing the "Lochaber Broadswords" and the "Seann Triubhas," in
case we have the misfortune to pass another St. Andrew's Day
here in Germany. If we do we shall give another Exhibition and I
would like to be able to vary it. I only know 12 Strathspey steps
and 8 Reel steps. Since I have been a prisoner I have taught
over 30 people to dance the Reel--including two Frenchmen and
one Russian, and at present I have five pupils on the chanter.
We are 16 Scots here, so can you say we are losing our national
distinctions? I have only told you this because I thought it
would interest you."
In Holland, in the internment camps, an organised pipe band was
instituted by the writer of the above letter, and consisted of
thirteen pipers of whom two were pipe majors.
MILITARY PIPE BANDS, AND REFORM
In preparing this record of the pipe bands of our Armies during the
war the opportunity has been taken of consulting pipe presidents and
pipe majors as to the present condition of military piping and the
manner in which obvious defects might be remedied. Like other experts
they exhibit divergences of opinion, sometimes as regards the nature
of the defects, sometimes as to the best method of remedying them. In
certain matters, however, there is absolute unanimity, and these are
deserving of attention by the military authorities.
"_Sergeant piper._"--Throughout the Army there is, and has always
been, a strong objection to the title of "sergeant piper," which
in official parlance is employed instead of "pipe major." No one
ever calls a pipe major a sergeant piper, except in returns; and
withdrawal of this modern and indefensible title could result in
nothing but good. As there is no financial aspect involved in the
change, it would be a graceful and inexpensive concession to a body
of men to whom the Army and the nation owe much.
_Rank of the Pipe Major._--On another point there is absolute
unanimity of opinion, viz., the rank of the pipe major. As
responsible for a band possibly numbering twenty or more pipers, the
pipe major ought to have the same rank as a bandmaster. To limit the
career of a piper to the possibility of becoming a pipe major with
the rank of sergeant is to prevent good men accepting the position;
and many a man, seeing he can hope for no advancement, leaves the
pipes and returns to the ranks, thus getting a chance of rising to
warrant rank.
This question of rank has a most important bearing on the interests
of piping generally, and is therefore a national one. As instructor
to his men the pipe major should be a first-class performer
himself, and this--although the public appear to be unaware of the
fact--involves long and assiduous training. It is useless asking a
man to attain the necessary standard of excellence for this purpose
and to offer him the pay of a sergeant in return. The consequence is
pipe majors are not always the best pipers--from the professional
point of view--in their units; and this ought to be remedied, even
though it does cost the nation the difference between the emoluments
of a warrant officer and of a sergeant in each unit.
_The Appointment of "Piper."_--Another necessary reform, which also
has the merit of costing nothing, is the official recognition of
"piper" as an appointment. In the Army "drummer" is an appointment,
but a piper is a private.
One result of this is that, on mobilisation, all pipers revert to the
ranks, excepting six (including the sergeant piper) per battalion.
Apart altogether from the special liability to casualties among the
"full pipers" when playing in action, it is evident that so small a
band may, under the ordinary conditions of modern warfare, be put
out of action; and then great difficulty is experienced in raising
another band. In many battalions during the war this happened,
sometimes more than once; and it is these battalions which are most
insistent on the strength being twelve instead of six pipers.
_Lowland regiments._--A grievance which cries for remedy at the hands
of the War Office is the treatment of pipers in Lowland regiments.
The official view appears to be that the existence of the pipes in
regiments such as the Royal Scots, the K.O.S.B.'s and others is an
unreasonable concession to a sentiment which is vulgarly called
"Scotch," but which, though believed to be nebulous, happens to be
too strong for the military reformers to ignore altogether. This view
indicates ignorance of the history of the pipes and of the Lowland
regiments; the one may be pardoned, the other is inexcusable.
It is absolutely certain that Lowland regiments had pipers before the
existing Highland regiments were raised at all; and the pipes were a
national instrument all over the Lowlands for centuries before there
was any Regular Army at all.
This being so it is quite illogical that the maintenance of their
pipe bands should be a greater financial burden on officers of a
Lowland than of a Highland regiment. The value of the institution,
from a military point of view, is the same in both; and pipe bands
should be treated as part of the recognised establishment in one as
in the other.
_Standardisation of military pipe music._--There is one grave defect
in military piping which is capable of being remedied quite easily.
Anyone who knows anything of piping knows that each individual piper
learns his tunes after the setting of some well-known authority, and
is for ever after prepared to maintain that that version alone is the
correct one. Unfortunately every battalion has its own setting for
every tune played in the band and declines to admit the possibility
of any other setting being used in any circumstances. Even in the
case of distinctively regimental tunes, _e.g._ "_Cabar Feidh_," the
two Regular battalions of the Seaforth Highlanders play--or used
to play, just before the war--different settings of that tune, and
a man transferred from one battalion to another had to learn the
slight differences which his new unit preferred. The same remarkable
individuality exists in every battalion and makes it very difficult
indeed to get a number of pipe bands to play even the best-known
tunes together without considerable practice.
This is quite wrong. By all means let the individual piper learn and
adhere to the setting of piobaireachd by his favourite authority; but
to have as many settings of an ordinary march as there are battalions
in the Army is not to the advantage of piping.
The remedy is simple enough,--the standardisation of pipe tunes for
military purposes, in precisely the same manner as obtains with
the National Anthems and trumpet and bugle calls; and, just as no
departure to meet regimental custom or prejudice is permitted in the
case of these latter, so the setting laid down for the Army in the
case of pipe tunes should be strictly defined and adhered to.
The superiority of one setting over another does not enter into the
question; what is essential is uniformity.
Many pipe majors have pointed to this standardisation as one of the
most important measures to be adopted after the war, in the interests
of piping in the Army.
_Neglect of Piobaireachd._--It is open to argument whether the
military piper does or does not exert a determining influence on the
cause of piping generally. Allowing fully for the great value of the
recognised societies and the periodical piping meetings throughout
Scotland, in keeping up the standard of the national instrument and
offering inducements for its study, it will be readily admitted that,
by their mere existence as permanent institutions, military pipe
bands keep up the cult of the pipes, at home and abroad, to so marked
a degree that any decline in their standard must have a deleterious
effect on piping generally.
To what extent, then, if at all, is military piping conducted to the
best advantage of the cause of piping, and is there room for reform?
It may be taken as generally the case that, in so far as a military
pipe band is regarded as designed for duty on the march, and for
various routine military musical duties, it fulfils its functions to
the satisfaction of all concerned. It is too much to expect the War
Office--or even individual commanding officers--to accept the view
that neglect of "ceol mor" is not compensated for by a high standard
of excellence in the "middle music" and in dances and marches.
Individual pipers in every battalion are players of "piobaireachd";
but any one with experience of regimental or garrison piping
competitions knows how small is the number of men who enter for that
class of event, as compared with performers of the march, strathspey
and reel.
The explanation is simple enough--the men play what their audience
demands, and "Leaving Glen Urquhart" or "Duntroon" appeals to more
people, military or civil, than the finest piobaireachd. Pipe majors,
even when themselves anxious to teach their pipers the higher class
of music, recognise that to attempt to do so would often be wasted
labour--men come to them too old to make piobaireachd players, and,
in any case, the opportunities for playing it in the Army are too few
to make it worth while trying to get men to go through the initial
drudgery. Being human they naturally turn to march and dance music;
and the result is that, except in the case of professional pipers who
have enlisted, the soldier piper generally ignores altogether the
classical side of his music.
This is a defect in military piping, and it should be remedied by
insisting that, before promotion to pipe major, a piper should pass
an examination in every branch of pipe music.
_A school of piping._--The time has come to establish a school of
piping for the army at which likely pipers could undergo refresher
courses of instruction in all classes of pipe music, in the correct
writing of music--a subject which is lamentably ignored, in the
theory of music, and in methods of instruction of recruit pipers.
In other words it should fulfil the same functions as regards the
training of future pipe majors, and the improvement of the standard
of playing in the army, that Kneller Hall does in the case of
bandmasters and military musical education generally.
No piper should be promoted pipe major until he has undergone a
complete course lasting at least six months, and has passed an
examination at the end of it.
Such a school should be open to civilian pipers and should become the
Macrimmon school of to-day.
The Piobaireachd Society have already decided to institute a memorial
to fallen pipers which shall take this form, and to the necessary
endowment the proceeds of this book will be devoted. But the army
must contribute towards its maintenance.
REGIMENTAL RECORDS
These Records are not based on military returns, and are
therefore not, in all cases, complete. They have been obtained by
correspondence with commanding officers, pipe presidents, pipe
majors and many others, but the exigencies of war have prevented the
information so obtained being absolutely accurate.
In many cases, units, reduced by fighting to mere cadres, have been
absorbed into other units and their pipers scattered; in others, the
field records of the units themselves have been lost or have ceased
to be available; and, in several, correspondence has been abruptly
terminated by the correspondent himself being killed or wounded.
In the circumstances it is satisfactory that so much information has
been obtained.
THE SCOTS GUARDS
1ST BATTALION.
During the first few months of the war there were very heavy
casualties among the pipers, and the band soon ceased to exist in
consequence. It was reconstituted in 1916, but was not again utilised
in the front line.
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
Pipe Major ALEX. ROSS
3707 Sergt. SAMUEL RICHARDSON Died of wounds, Battle of
Aisne, 14/9/14.
6495 Lance-Cpl. DAVID SMITH Wounded, the Aisne, 14/9/14.
6926 Piper KENNETH M'KAY Wounded, Ypres, 31/10/14.
6999 " BRUCE HOBSON Wounded, Ypres, 31/10/14; taken
prisoner.
991 " ALEXANDER MARTIN, Won D.C.M.; killed 19/2/16.
D.C.M.
8543 Piper JAMES M'KENZIE Killed, Ypres, 31/10/14;
despatches.
7529 " MURDOCH M'DONALD Wounded.
8423 Corporal JAMES CARSTAIRS Wounded, Ypres, 26/10/14.
6456 Piper ROBERT PATON Wounded, Ypres, 31/10/14.
5437 " A. M'RURY
11150 " CHRISTOPHER M'PHERSON
9456 " ALAN M'PHEDRAN
" HECTOR M'NAIR
" J. SMITH Wounded.
" THOMAS ANDERSON
" MALCOLM M'KENZIE Killed, Oct. 1914.
" J. M'DONALD Wounded.
" E. KENNEDY
" J. ORMISTON
" D. M'INNES
Corpl. D. HOWISON
Piper A. CARMICHAEL Killed, 1915.
" T. BROWNLOW, D.C.M., Military Medal, D.C.M.
M.M.
" D. TAYLOR
" D. MARSHALL
" C. M'PHERSON
" J. COVENTRY
" R. PATON Wounded.
" J. JOHNSTONE
" W. M'LEOD Wounded.
" C. M'RAE Wounded.
2ND BATTALION
There were heavy casualties in the Ypres fighting in Oct. 1914,
and by the end of March, 1915, practically no pipers remained. The
band was subsequently reconstituted, but like that of the sister
battalion, was as far as possible saved from further decimation.
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
Pipe Major WILLIAM ROSS Invalided.
7743 Sergt. ANDREW M'INTOSH
" DONALD M'INTOSH
3681 Lance-Sgt. ARCHIBALD M'KIMM Wounded and taken prisoner,
Zonnebeke, 26/10/14.
Lance-Cpl. HECTOR M'KIMM Killed, Zonnebeke, 26/10/14.
5539 Piper ALEXANDER RUSSELL Wounded, Ypres, 21/10/14.
7281 " WILLIAM GRANT Wounded, Gheluvelt, 28/10/14.
8053 " JOHN CONNOR Wounded, 28/10/14.
7725 Piper JAMES WELSTEAD Wounded and taken prisoner,
Zonnebeke, 26/10/14.
8341 " WILLIAM M'DONALD Wounded; invalided, 26/10/14.
8349 " ARCHIBALD M'PHERSON Wounded, Neuve Chapelle,
11/3/15.
" M. M'PHERSON
8081 " CHARLES M'GUIRE Died of wounds at Ypres,
29/10/14.
8852 " COLIN LIVINGSTONE Wounded, Ypres, 27/10/14;
burned with liquid fire,
Neuve Chapelle, 13/3/15.
11148 " JAMES COVENTRY
7039 " JAMES M'DONALD Wounded, 13/3/15.
" T. MARSHALL
" C. MUNRO
" D. MARSHALL
" W. CRAIG
" D. M'PHEDRAN Wounded, Ypres, 27/10/14.
" J. M'PHEDRAN
" D. M'ARTHUR
" J. WALKER
These two battalions, in the first year, had 7 pipers killed and 17
wounded.
THE ROYAL SCOTS
1ST BATTALION
In the capture of Karadzakot Zir, in the Salonika operations, the
battalion was played to the attack by Pipers Collins, Clancy, Smart
and Mallin, and the C.O. considers that their services on this
occasion "were of inestimable value; it was largely due to the
presence of the pipers with the leading wave that the enemy evacuated
their trenches and retired in disorder." Besides their value on the
march and in billets "they were invaluable in inspiring _esprit de
corps_ under fire."
Pipers were also employed as observers, messengers, scouts, etc.
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
10369 Pipe Major G. J. ALLAN
8473 Sergt. J. M'NAB Promoted Pipe Major, 1st R.S.F.
10122 Corpl. R. SOFTLEY Wounded, May 1915, France.
10123 " E. COLLINS
10183 Piper J. CLANCY Invalided.
10754 " J. BURNS
11002 Corpl. W. M'MILLAN, D.C.M.
10032 Piper P. MALLIN Invalided.
9885 " W. M'ARTHUR Invalided.
" E. DUGUID
10639 " J. SMART
8450 " R. DRUMMOND Wounded, May 1915, France.
39291 " H. THOMSON
10273 " R. ARMOUR Wounded, Karadzakot, Sept. 1916.
13859 " D. WHITE
43315 " H. M'WILLIAMS Wounded, Aug. 1918.
32844 " J. NOBLE
48594 " D. M'DONALD Died in hospital, Bulgaria.
16443 " A. ALVES
200297 " W. HOVAN
2ND BATTALION
The 2nd battalion took part in the original fighting of the war.
During the retirement from Mons the pipers were chiefly employed as
despatch-runners and orderlies. They went out with 16 pipers and lost
6 during the first few weeks. Four pipers, including Pipe Major Duff,
were taken prisoner at Audincourt on 26th August, 1914.
During the Somme fighting they were employed as stretcher-bearers
and suffered severe casualties. On one occasion they did invaluable
service in bringing water up to the battalion. At Ypres in September,
1916, the pipers were carrying barbed wire up to the front when a
shell wounded three. After that the band was withdrawn from the front
line and employed in playing the battalion to and from the trenches.
By the end of 1918 there had been 7 pipers killed, 16 wounded and 4
taken prisoner, and, to quote the pipe major, "I have seen 3 bands
disappear and the fourth is now on German soil."
Apart from the difficulty of replacement of casualties one of the
reasons why pipers were not used in attacks was because it was felt
"when the men heard the pipes they would lose control of themselves
and, in their eagerness to get forward would be apt to rush into
their own barrage."
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
8696 Pipe Major J. DUFF Wounded, taken prisoner,
Audincourt, 26/8/14.
5815 Pipe Major J. A. DUNBAR
9357 Lance-Cpl. G. M'DONALD Wounded, taken prisoner,
Audincourt, 26/8/14.
325127 Corpl. J. MACKAY Wounded, 23/11/17.
10535 Piper D. WHEELAN Wounded, taken prisoner,
Audincourt.
9865 " A. SMART Wounded, taken prisoner,
Audincourt.
9867 Lance Cpl. GROVES Wounded, Kemmel, Nov. 1914.
11161 Piper J. STEELE Wounded, Kemmel, Nov. 1914.
9356 Piper J. HUNTER Wounded, Ypres, 28/5/15.
10541 " F. M'EWAN Wounded, 23/5/15, 12/4/18,
8/10/18.
11065 " H. M'LEOD Recommended for D.C.M.;
wounded, Ypres, 28/5/15.
11484 " D. LINDSAY Killed, 4/5/17.
" A. MACKINLAY Killed, 9/4/18.
4918 " A. CRUICKSHANKS Killed, 27/9/18.
9356 " R. HUNTER Wounded, 23/5/15.
13459 " WILLIAM FISHER Wounded, Loos, 25/9/15; killed,
15/4/16.
250240 " WILLIAM BLACK Wounded, 12/11/17.
8516 " J. ROBERTSON Killed, Croix Barbes, 13/10/14.
325547 " R. ROBERTSON Wounded, 9/4/18.
8450 " J. DRUMMOND Killed, The Bluff, 23/1/16.
8906 " J. HENRY Wounded, Somme, 13/7/16.
9787 " J. YOUNGSON Wounded, The Bluff, 4/3/16.
9061 " J. JOHNSTON Wounded, 13/9/14.
7929 " J. ANDERSON Wounded, Kemmel, April, 1915.
3190 " J. THOMPSON Died, 30/8/15.
10536 " E. DUGUID Killed (gas), 10/5/18.
270014 " J. SINCLAIR Wounded, 9/4/17.
32553 " W. HUTCHESON Wounded, 26/3/18.
11613 " A. MACDONALD Wounded, 12/4/18.
8899 " R. SCHOLES
10178 " J. SCOTT
11486 " J. CLARK
270037 " J. PAUL
270045 " A. STOCKS
325080 " R. JOHNSTONE
250240 " W. BLACK
270821 " D. SHANE
11437 Lance Cpl. A. SWINNEY
4TH BATTALION (QUEEN'S EDINBURGH RIFLES)
This battalion served in Gallipoli, and took part in the attack
on Achi Baba on 28th June, 1915. On this occasion the Pipe Major
John Buchan was killed when playing along the line as the regiment
commenced their advance.
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
Pipe Major ANDREW BUCHAN Killed, Gallipoli, 28/6/15.
Piper C. RUTHERFORD Died of dysentery, June, 1915.
" E. ALEXANDER Wounded on Achi Baba, 28/6/15.
" J. CHRISTIE
" A. MURRAY
" J. DUNCAN
" W. ARMSTRONG
" J. HUGHES
" P. LAIDLAW
5TH BATTALION (QUEEN'S EDINBURGH RIFLES)
During the Gallipoli fighting the whole of the pipers became
casualties, some of them while acting as pipers, others while serving
in the ranks. Shortly after the landing, 1235 Piper Sinclair gathered
together some stragglers and successfully covered the retirement of
his battalion at a critical period. He himself died of his wounds.
The band ceased to exist until again started in 1916. Writing of
their subsequent experiences the commanding officer says "they
gloriously upheld the traditions achieved by their predecessors."
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
1417 Pipe Major JAMES PEDEN
1303 Piper G. HARDIE Killed, 2/5/15, Gallipoli.
1235 " W. SINCLAIR Died of wounds, 8/5/15,
Gallipoli.
766 " A. LAWSON Killed, 28/4/15.
1824 " G. W. DOWNIE Killed, 7/5/15.
471 " J. UNCLES Wounded, April, 1915,
Gallipoli.
1885 Corpl. D. SWAN Wounded, 7/5/15.
1156 Piper J. G. SCOTT Wounded, May, 1915.
1364 " N. M'ELHINNY Wounded, 4/6/15; and again,
Gallipoli.
1539 " W. M'IVOR Wounded, 28/6/15, Gallipoli.
8109 " DAVID ROSS Killed, July, 1916.
6TH BATTALION
Pipers were almost entirely employed behind the front line owing to
the difficulty of replacement.
The battalion was ultimately merged with the 5th Royal Scots.
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
Pipe Major R. ANDERSON
Corpl. J. GREER
" R. ROUGH
Piper T. LEAKE Died, Egypt.
" A. M'KENZIE
" R. BREMNER
" J. FISHER
" R. IRVINE
5/6 BATTALION
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
Pipe Major J. A. GORDON
Corpl. A. JACK
Piper R. DAVIDSON
" R. MARTIN
" R. FLETCHER
" J. MARSHALL
" J. HANNAH
7TH BATTALION
This battalion lost the pipe major and 2 pipers in a railway accident
before going overseas. While in Gallipoli they were employed in the
ranks. After the Gallipoli operations the band was brought up to
strength and played the battalion into Palestine to the old air of
"Blue Bonnets over the Border."
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.
Sergt. Piper JAMES GEAR Killed in train in England.
Piper GEORGE SMEATON Killed in train in England.
" ALEX. NICOL Killed in train in England.
Lance-Cpl. JAMES CAMPBELL Wounded.
Piper JAMES PEARSON Wounded in train smash.
" FRED TURNER Killed, 12/7/15.
" THOMAS CLACHERS
251141 " PETER M'NEILL Killed, 6/11/17, Palestine.
8TH BATTALION
At Festubert and elsewhere the pipers were employed as
stretcher-bearers, and Pipe Major J. M'Dougall was awarded the D.C.M.
"for gallant conduct under very trying circumstances." After the
first two years it was decided to keep the band out of action as far
as possible.
REG. NO. RANK. NAME. RECORD.