Wednesday 31 December 2014

First World War Remembered: The Pipers



On 25 September 1915, as troops of 7th Kings Own Scottish Borderers waited to go over the top they came under gas attack throwing them into confusion.

Piper Daniel Logan Laidlaw was ordered by his Commanding Officer to play to restore discipline in the ranks.

He mounted the parapet and walked the length of the trench playing 'All the Blue Bonnets over the Border.'

Order was restored and the attack went ahead as expected.




Laidlaw continued to play during the assault but was shot down as he approached the German trenches.

He survived and was later awarded both the Victoria Cross and the French Croix de Guerre.

More than a thousand Pipers from Scottish Regiments were to be killed during the war.




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