pipers in the british army.....

[breakish]

at el alamein on october 23rd 1942 the british general montogomery decided to use pipers to lead the highland regiments into battle, this i believe was the first time pipers had lead the troops into battle since the great war, due to the number of piper fatalities on the first night the practice of using pipers was ceased, i know that bill millin was legendary at the d day landings but dont think he lead the troops into batle throughout and played up and down the beaches on this day ( i may be wrong) can anybody verify when pipers ceased piping and leading the troops into battle

[DavidWW]

at el alamein on october 23rd 1942 the british general montogomery decided to use pipers to lead the highland regiments into battle, this i believe was the first time pipers had lead the troops into battle since the great war, due to the number of piper fatalities on the first night the practice of using pipers was ceased, i know that bill millin was legendary at the d day landings but dont think he lead the troops into batle throughout and played up and down the beaches on this day ( i may be wrong) can anybody verify when pipers ceased piping and leading the troops into battle

It has never ever been the case that pipers have ceased to lead Scottish regiments into action , but modern day practicalities have progressively come more and more into play.

Aden and the Argylls, - Colonel "mad Mitch",- for example ............. who led the regiment into Crater with pipers at the head!!

There are several examples in the Gulf War and Iraq of pipers playing their Scottish regiments into action to the extent possible.

The constraint in modern day terms, is that infantry, more often than not, go into action in armoured vehicles.

For those of you with a view to unique moments in history, this year's Edinburgh Military Tattoo, - I was there for the last performance, - was most probably the last ever time when the pipes and drums of the surviving six Scottish Regiments of Foot, - The Royal Scots (1st of Foot), The Royal Highland Fusiliers (21st of Foot - The Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Highland Light Infantry, 71st and 74th of Foot), The King's Own Scottish Borderers (25th of Foot), The Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) (42nd and 73rd of Foot), - The Highlanders (Seaforths, Gordon, and Camerons) (72nd, 75th, 78th, 79th, and 92nd of Foot), and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Lousie's) (91st and 93rd of Foot) - will perform together, unless the Ministery of Defence decides to reverse its decision to amalgate them into a five battalion regiment by the name of the Royal Scottish Regiment, but, despite many promises to the contrary, without any guarantee that the centuries old traditions of the various regiments and their antecedents will be maintained in these five new battalions of this proposed single regiment, - not even tartans or cap badges........

The regimental association of the KOSBs, however, may have put a major spoke in the wheel of the Ministry of Defence by initiating an action in the Court of Session in Edinburgh on the basis that the KOSBs were raised by an Act of the then Scottish Parliament in 1689, some years before the parliamentary Union with England in 1707 , - but this Act has never been repealed Major red faces in London in the MoD and Westminster ................

David

[breakish]

david, i will email you an article that differs from your post, i am not doubting you but did some research that needs provenancing

[DavidWW]

david, i will email you an article that differs from your post, i am not doubting you but did some research that needs provenancing

Greatly look forward to seeing it !!

David

[breakish]

david, sent you an email did you get it?

[StewL]

Just a comment on the Argylls in Aden.

I heard that story for two different sources, and one of them was my cousin who was a Sergeant in the Argylls at the time. He said it put the fear of god into the locals, and there wasnt a local in site. I also heard they were in full regimental dress too, but not too sure of the accuracy of that part of the story. Things do get muddle up with history.

[breakish]

when did the battle of el alamein end ? accrding to col david murray who wrote the 51st highland division at el alamein he states " each company was to be played into action by its piper, this old custom had been discontinued after the great war, when heavy casualties amongst the pipers meant that regimental pipe bands had ceased to exist" this means that prior to this and after el alamein pipers still played at the battle BUT THEY DID NOT LEAD AND CONTINUE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE.

[DavidWW]

david, sent you an email did you get it?

Not yet...... haven't checked my email this morning ...... during and immediately efter a pairty, the situation tends to go wild in terms of TS posts where I see a need to get involved

David

[DavidWW]

when did the battle of el alamein end ? accrding to col david murray who wrote the 51st highland division at el alamein he states " each company was to be played into action by its piper, this old custom had been discontinued after the great war, when heavy casualties amongst the pipers meant that regimental pipe bands had ceased to exist" this means that prior to this and after el alamein pipers still played at the battle BUT THEY DID NOT LEAD AND CONTINUE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE.

I suspect that this is the difference, - i.e. being led into action as opposed to being played into action ........

David

[breakish]

david e mailed you again