

WHEREVER Scottish troops have fought the sound of
the pipes has been heard, speaking to us of our beloved native land,
bringing back to our memories the proud traditions of our race, and
stimulating our spirits to fresh efforts in the cause of freedom. The
cry of "The Lament" over our fallen heroes has reminded us of the
undying spirit of the Scottish race, and of the sacredness of our cause.
The Pipers of Scotland may well be proud of the
part they have played in this war, in the heat of battle, by the lonely
grave, and during the long hours of waiting, they have called to us to
show ourselves worthy of the land to which we belong. Many have fallen
in the fight for liberty, but their memories remain. Their fame will
inspire others to learn the pipes, and keep alive their music in the
Land of the Gael.
Preface
This record of the achievements of pipers during
the war of 1914-18 is not intended to be an appeal to emotionalism. It
aims at showing that, in spite of the efforts of a very efficient enemy
to prevent individual gallantry, in spite of the physical conditions of
the modern battlefield, the pipes of war, the oldest instrument in the
world, have played an even greater part in the orchestra of battle in
this than they have in past campaigns.
The piper, be he Highlander, or Lowlander, or Scot
from Overseas, has accomplished the impossible—not rarely and under
favourable conditions, but almost as a matter of routine; and to him
not Scotland only but the British Empire owes more than they have yet
appreciated.
In doing so he has
sacrificed himself; and Scotland—and the world— must face the fact that
a large proportion of the men who played the instrument and kept alive
the old traditions have completed their self- imposed task. With 300
pipers killed and 600 wounded something must be done to raise a new
generation of players; it is a matter of national importance that this
should be taken in hand at once, and that the sons of those who have
gone should follow in the footsteps of their fathers.
This is the best tribute that can be offered to
them.
The Piobaireachd
Society intend to institute a Memorial School of piping for this
purpose, and all profits from the sale of this book will be handed over
to their fund.
The
compilation of the statistical portions of the work has involved
correspondence with commanding officers, pipe presidents and pipe majors
of many units in the Imperial armies; to them, for their enthusiastic
assistance in obtaining information, is due the credit for the mass of
detail that has been made available.
To the other contributors—authors, artists and
poets—is due in large measure such success as may follow the publication
of this work. They have helped a cause worthy of their efforts.
It is earnestly to be hoped that Scotland will
rise to the occasion. To the compilers it has been a privilege to record
the achievements of men— many of them personal friends—who contributed
so largely to the success of their gallant regiments.
B. S. & J. G.
Contents
Introduction
A History of the Pipes
The Pipes in the War, 1914-1918
The Western Front
Galipoli
Salonika
Mesopotamia
The Last Stage
Pipers in the Ranks
Pipers on the March
Pipe Tunes
Individual Achievements
Foreigners and the Pipes
The Pipes in Captivity
Military Pipe Bands and Reform
Regimental Records
The Scots Guards
The Royal Scots
The Royal Scots Fusiliers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers
The Cameronians (The Scottish Rifles)
The Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch)
The Highland Light Infantry
The Seaforth Highlanders
The Gordon Highlanders
The Cameron Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The London Scottish
The Tyneside Scottish
The Middlesex Regiment
The Liverpool Scottish
The Royal Fusiliers
The Argyllshire Mountain Battery
The Ross and Cromarty Battery
Miscellaneous
The Pipe Band of the 52nd (Lowland)
Division
Prisoners of War Band
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
The Royal Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada
The Canadian Scottish
The Cameron Highlanders of Canada
The 21st Canadians
The 25th Canadians
The 29th Canadians
The 236th Canadians
The Canadian Pioneers
The 2nd Auckland Regiment
The 42nd Australians
The South African Scottish
Roll of Honour, 1914 - 1918
Canntaireachd. By Major J. P. Grant, MC., Yr. of
Rothiemurchus
The Irish
Pipes: Their History, Development and Divergence from the Simple
Highland Type. By W. H. Gratton Flood, Mus D., K.S.G,
The Tuition of Young
Regimental Pipers. By John Grant, Pipe Major
The Spirit of the MacCrimmons, By Fred T. MacLeod,
FSA Scot
A Gossip about
the Gordon Highlanders. By J. N. Bulloch
To The Lion Rampant. By Alice C. MacDonnell of Keppoch
The Music of
Battle. By Philip Gibbs
The Pipes in the everyday Life of the War. By Arthur Fetterless
The Oldest Air in the World. By Neil Munro
The Pipes: Onset. By Joseph Lee, Lieut.
Flesh to the Eagles. By Boyd Cable
The Black Chanter. By Chartles Laing Ware
The Pipes. By Edmund Candler
See also some mini
bios of Pipers competing in the
Glenfiddich Piping Championship
(2020) (pdf)
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