Scottish Highlanders in Normandy June 1944

[usabaker]

One way to do a column. Members of the 7th Seaforth Highlanders, 15th Division, advancing during Operation Epsom in Normandy on 26 June 1944.

Attachment 110477

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Flying10uk]

There is nothing unusual to have a piper at the front of a column for a Scottish or Canadian Scottish regiment. Scottish regiments have a very long and very proud history.

The various Scottish regiment museums, dotted around Scotland, are fascinating places to visit as is the Scottish National War museum at Edinburgh Castle and well worth visiting when the virus restrictions etc have been resolved.

National War Museum | Edinburgh Castle

[Bob Womack]

I wonder what happens to the regimental pipes? A good portion of their mechanism is perishable so there would be two levels to a restoration: playability or simple displayability. But then, with pipers out front of the regiments, I wonder how many pipers were killed or wounded and whether their pipes regularly survived. Musings of a musician.

Bob

[usabaker]

I wonder what happens to the regimental pipes?

That's an interesting question, I wonder if they get to keep it since its a wind instrument and will have much DNA in it.

---------- Post added at 08:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:39 PM ----------

There is nothing unusual to have a piper at the front of a column for a Scottish or Canadian Scottish regiment.

How about Irish, do they follow suit as well?

[GeeRam]

Back in the 1990's I knew a good few veterans of Operation Epsom, all from the other division involved, 43rd Wessex Division, they were mostly all involved in the battle for Hill 112.
I was involved in taking some of them back to Hill 112 for the 55th Anniversary in 1999.

[mrclark303]

That's all that's required to stare down Jonny foreigner, bagpipes and a stout shovel!

It used to un-nerve enemies of the crown, an excellent psychological first move....

[bombdoc]

The regimental museums of the Scottish regiments hold many sets of historic pipes given to them over the years. Reeds do not last long, but are really just consumables. Bags will become stiff and crack if not worked and fed, but again are easily replaced. The rest of the pipes are pretty indestructible if looked after, much like guns. They are mostly made of turned hardwood and silver. The bag cover and braids are usually wool and silk, and as long as they are kept out of direct light and the moths kept away, will last an extremely long time.

It used to be a standing myth that pipes were in the same part of the Stores Catalogue as small arms as they were considered to be weapons of war by the Regiments that used them. That said, I think demands for pipe replacements would be fed quickly through the system as they were considered a vital element in maintaining morale. I know the granddaughter of Piper Laidlaw, the Piper of Loos, who is still held in great regard by the Piping Mafia.

The Army School of Piping and Highland Drumming is in Redford Barracks in Edinburgh and has an interesting display of piping memorabilia. It is not open to the public, but it is probably worth asking for a visit if you are a true believer...

Wear Ear Protection..!

[GeeRam]

I know the granddaughter of Piper Laidlaw, the Piper of Loos, who is still held in great regard by the Piping Mafia.

My maternal Grandmother's older brother was KIA going over the top in the first wave out of the trenches of the 7th KOSB, on the opening day of the Battle of Loos, 25th Sept 1915, chances are that Laidlaw's piping was one of the last things he heard.

I drove over to Loos on 25th September 2015, on the 100th Anniversary and laid a poppy wreath under his name on the memorial wall at Dud Corner Cemetery, and a small poppy cross in the field right where the 7th trenches were located, the trench line is still visible to see on Google earth. You can just see Dud Corner cemetery on the horizon, picture centre (to the right of the famous Loos Double Crassier slag heaps)

[Flying10uk]

Probably about time to have some bagpipes.

[Gil Boyd]

They were always seen as expendable, unarmed, out front, but what a morale booster when you heard that coming and the reason the enemy wanted to put an end to the squeeling cat!
Airborne units had pipers right through WW1 and especially in WW2.
Pegasus Bridge capture was an inpiration whilst under fire, once the gliders had landed, the piper from the Airborne unit and Lord Lovett's Commandos was very prevelent!!