![]() Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, was commander of 1st Special Service Brigade for the Normandy landings on D-Day 6th June 1944, and brought with him his 21-year-old personal piper, Bill Millin. Although the attack was successful, losses among the pipers were high and the use of bagpipes was banned from the frontline. As they attacked, each company was led by a piper playing tunes that would identify their regiment in the darkness, usually their company march. As well as being awarded the Victoria Cross, Laidlaw also received the French Criox de Guerre in recognition of his bravery.ĭuring World War II, pipers were used by the 51st Highland Division at the start of the Second Battle of El Alamein on 23 October 1942. Laidlaw continued piping until he got near the German lines when he was wounded. Oblivious to the danger, he played, “All the Blue Bonnets Over the Border.” The effect on the men was almost instant and they swarmed over the top into battle. Immediately the piper mounted the parapet and began marching up and down the length of the trench. The commanding officer ordered Laidlaw to start playing, to pull the shaken men together ready for the assault. Under heavy fire and suffering from a gas attack, the company’s morale was at rock bottom. On September 25th 1915 the company were preparing to ‘go over the top’. Piper Daniel Laidlaw of the 7th Kings Own Scottish Borderers was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in World War One. The death rate amongst pipers was extremely high: it is estimated that around 1000 pipers died in World War One. However, unarmed and drawing attention to themselves with their playing, pipers were always an easy target for the enemy, no more so than during World War One when they would lead the men ‘over the top’ of the trenches and into battle. The bloodcurdling sound and swirl of the pipes boosted morale amongst the troops and intimidated the enemy. ![]() The original purpose of the pipes in battle was to signal tactical movements to the troops, in the same way as a bugle was used in the cavalry to relay orders from officers to soldiers during battle.Īfter the Jacobite Rebellions, during the late 18th century a number of regiments were raised from the Highlands of Scotland and by the early 19th century these Scottish regiments had revived the tradition with pipers playing their comrades into battle, a practice which continued into World War I. ![]() It's broadcast on ABC RN on Tuesday 20th September, or on the ABC Listen App.The sound of the pipes on a Scottish battlefield echoes through the ages. The History Listen's next episode is about the Hawaiian steel guitar craze of the 1930s. Track title: Sleepy Lagoon Artist: Hoola Composer: Eric Coates Album: Hoola Label: Independent Track title: The Ladies of the Bark Huts Artist: Shane Lestideau, Jack Wilson Composer: Traditional Album: The Bell Birds of Scotland (forthcoming) Track title: Odd Ditty Artist: Evergreen Ensemble Composer: Alice Chance Album: Snow In Summer Label: Move Records MCD 584 Robert Baillie & Robert Ballantyne Album: Your Loving Father (forthcoming) Track title: The Lass O'Bonacord & Dumblair Artist: Shane Lestideau Composer: Scott Skinner, arr. Robert Baillie Album: One Hundred Days Away Label: ABC Classic 481 8463 Track title: Duet on Scottish Airs Artist: Evergreen Ensemble Composer: Traditional, arr. Track title: O Cruor Sanguinis Artist: Riley Lee Composer: Hildegard Album: Breath of the Earth Label: Music Media MMC130 The Baillie Fantasias tour Shane Lestideau (violin) and Donald Nicolson (piano)įriday 30 September - Mungo Park, Newlyn, Vic Saturday 1 October - Mulberry Manse, Clunes, Vic Sunday 2 October The Heights Heritage House, Geelong, Vic Monday 3 October - Melbourne Recital Centre, Vic
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