THE ROYAL SCOTS
1st Battalion
In the capture of Karadzakot Zir, in the Salonika operations, the battalion was played to the attack by Pipers Collins, Clancy, Smart and Mallin, and the C.O. considers that their services on this occasion "were of inestimable value; it was largely due to the presence of the pipers with the leading wave that the enemy evacuated their trenches and retired in disorder." Besides their value on the march and in billets "they were invaluable in inspiring esprit de corps under fire."
Pipers were also employed as observers, messengers, scouts, etc.
2nd Battalion
The 2nd battalion took part in the original fighting of the war. During the retirement from Mons the pipers were chiefly employed as despatch-runners and orderlies. They went out with 16 pipers and lost 6 during the first few weeks. Four pipers, including Pipe Major Duff, were taken prisoner at Audincourt on 26th August, 1914.
During the Somme fighting they were employed as stretcher-bearers and suffered severe casualties. On one occasion they did invaluable service in bringing water up to the battalion. At Ypres in September, 1916, the pipers were carrying barbed wire up to the front when a shell wounded three. After that the band was withdrawn from the front line and employed in playing the battalion to and from the trenches. By the end of 1918 there had been 7 pipers killed, 16 wounded and 4 taken prisoner, and, to quote the pipe major, "I have seen 3 bands disappear and the fourth is now on German soil."
Apart from the difficulty of replacement of casualties one of the reasons why pipers were not used in attacks was because it was felt "when the men heard the pipes they would lose control of themselves and, in their eagerness to get forward would be apt to rush into their own barrage."
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| 8696 | Pipe Major | J. Duff | Wounded, taken prisoner, Audincourt, 26/8/14. |
| 5815 | Pipe Major | J. A. Dunbar | |
| 9357 | Lance-Cpl. | G. M'Donald | Wounded, taken prisoner, Audincourt, 26/8/14. |
| 325127 | Corpl. | J. MacKay | Wounded, 23/11/17. |
| 10535 | Piper | D. Wheelan | Wounded, taken prisoner, Audincourt. |
| 9865 | " | A. Smart | Wounded, taken prisoner, Audincourt. |
| 9867 | Lance Cpl. | Groves | Wounded, Kemmel, Nov. 1914. |
| 11161 | Piper | J. Steele | Wounded, Kemmel, Nov. 1914. |
| 9356 | Piper | J. Hunter | Wounded, Ypres, 28/5/15. |
| 10541 | " | F. M'Ewan | Wounded, 23/5/15, 12/4/18, 8/10/18. |
| 11065 | " | H. M'Leod | Recommended for D.C.M.; wounded, Ypres, 28/5/15. |
| 11484 | " | D. Lindsay | Killed, 4/5/17. |
| " | A. Mackinlay | Killed, 9/4/18. | |
| 4918 | " | A. Cruickshanks | Killed, 27/9/18. |
| 9356 | " | R. Hunter | Wounded, 23/5/15. |
| 13459 | " | William Fisher | Wounded, Loos, 25/9/15; killed, 15/4/16. |
| 250240 | " | William Black | Wounded, 12/11/17. |
| 8516 | " | J. Robertson | Killed, Croix Barbes, 13/10/14. |
| 325547 | " | R. Robertson | Wounded, 9/4/18. |
| 8450 | " | J. Drummond | Killed, The Bluff, 23/1/16. |
| 8906 | " | J. Henry | Wounded, Somme, 13/7/16. |
| 9787 | " | J. Youngson | Wounded, The Bluff, 4/3/16. |
| 9061 | " | J. Johnston | Wounded, 13/9/14. |
| 7929 | " | J. Anderson | Wounded, Kemmel, April, 1915. |
| 3190 | " | J. Thompson | Died, 30/8/15. |
| 10536 | " | E. Duguid | Killed (gas), 10/5/18. |
| 270014 | " | J. Sinclair | Wounded, 9/4/17. |
| 32553 | " | W. Hutcheson | Wounded, 26/3/18. |
| 11613 | " | A. Macdonald | Wounded, 12/4/18. |
| 8899 | " | R. Scholes | |
| 10178 | " | J. Scott | |
| 11486 | " | J. Clark | |
| 270037 | " | J. Paul | |
| 270045 | " | A. Stocks | |
| 325080 | " | R. Johnstone | |
| 250240 | " | W. Black | |
| 270821 | " | D. Shane | |
| 11437 | Lance Cpl. | A. Swinney | |
4th Battalion (Queen's Edinburgh Rifles)
This battalion served in Gallipoli, and took part in the attack on Achi Baba on 28th June, 1915. On this occasion the Pipe Major John Buchan was killed when playing along the line as the regiment commenced their advance.
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| Pipe Major | Andrew Buchan | Killed, Gallipoli, 28/6/15. | |
| Piper | C. Rutherford | Died of dysentery, June, 1915. | |
| " | E. Alexander | Wounded on Achi Baba, 28/6/15. | |
| " | J. Christie | ||
| " | A. Murray | ||
| " | J. Duncan | ||
| " | W. Armstrong | ||
| " | J. Hughes | ||
| " | P. Laidlaw | ||
5th Battalion (Queen's Edinburgh Rifles)
During the Gallipoli fighting the whole of the pipers became casualties, some of them while acting as pipers, others while serving in the ranks. Shortly after the landing, 1235 Piper Sinclair gathered together some stragglers and successfully covered the retirement of his battalion at a critical period. He himself died of his wounds. The band ceased to exist until again started in 1916. Writing of their subsequent experiences the commanding officer says "they gloriously upheld the traditions achieved by their predecessors."
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| 1417 | Pipe Major | James Peden | |
| 1303 | Piper | G. Hardie | Killed, 2/5/15, Gallipoli. |
| 1235 | " | W. Sinclair | Died of wounds, 8/5/15, Gallipoli. |
| 766 | " | A. Lawson | Killed, 28/4/15. |
| 1824 | " | G. W. Downie | Killed, 7/5/15. |
| 471 | " | J. Uncles | Wounded, April, 1915, Gallipoli. |
| 1885 | Corpl. | D. Swan | Wounded, 7/5/15. |
| 1156 | Piper | J. G. Scott | Wounded, May, 1915. |
| 1364 | " | N. M'Elhinny | Wounded, 4/6/15; and again, Gallipoli. |
| 1539 | " | W. M'Ivor | Wounded, 28/6/15, Gallipoli. |
| 8109 | " | David Ross | Killed, July, 1916. |
6th Battalion
Pipers were almost entirely employed behind the front line owing to the difficulty of replacement.
The battalion was ultimately merged with the 5th Royal Scots.
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| Pipe Major | R. Anderson | ||
| Corpl. | J. Greer | ||
| " | R. Rough | ||
| Piper | T. Leake | Died, Egypt. | |
| " | A. M'Kenzie | ||
| " | R. Bremner | ||
| " | J. Fisher | ||
| " | R. Irvine | ||
5/6 Battalion
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| Pipe Major | J. A. Gordon | ||
| Corpl. | A. Jack | ||
| Piper | R. Davidson | ||
| " | R. Martin | ||
| " | R. Fletcher | ||
| " | J. Marshall | ||
| " | J. Hannah | ||
7th Battalion
This battalion lost the pipe major and 2 pipers in a railway accident before going overseas. While in Gallipoli they were employed in the ranks. After the Gallipoli operations the band was brought up to strength and played the battalion into Palestine to the old air of "Blue Bonnets over the Border."
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| Sergt. Piper | James Gear | Killed in train in England. | |
| Piper | George Smeaton | Killed in train in England. | |
| " | Alex. Nicol | Killed in train in England. | |
| Lance-Cpl. | James Campbell | Wounded. | |
| Piper | James Pearson | Wounded in train smash. | |
| " | Fred Turner | Killed, 12/7/15. | |
| " | Thomas Clachers | ||
| 251141 | " | Peter M'Neill | Killed, 6/11/17, Palestine. |
8th Battalion
At Festubert and elsewhere the pipers were employed as stretcher-bearers, and Pipe Major J. M'Dougall was awarded the D.C.M. "for gallant conduct under very trying circumstances." After the first two years it was decided to keep the band out of action as far as possible.
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| 7271 | Pipe Major | J. H. M'Dougall, D.C.M. | Wounded, 22/5/15; D.C.M. |
| 7124 | " | J. Sterrick | Time expired, 6/5/16. |
| 335120 | " | J. Stevenson | |
| 325119 | Lance-Cpl. | S. Thomson | |
| 335062 | Piper | D. Sheills | |
| 335113 | " | A. Euman | |
| 7059 | " | J. Stirling | Wounded, 20/5/15. |
| 594 | " | J. Martin | Wounded, 21/12/14. |
| 335118 | " | R. A. Dodds | |
| 7112 | " | A. Sterrick | Invalided, Dec., 1914. |
| 7132 | " | R. Crawford | Invalided, May, 1915. |
| 819 | " | G. Darling | Wounded, 13/10/16. |
| 4244 | " | T. Forrest | Invalided, 26/2/15. |
| 4467 | " | A. Notman | Invalided, 13/10/16. |
| 330041 | " | W. Brown | |
| 335074 | " | F. Confrey | Invalided, 10/8/18. |
| 330347 | " | J. Dickson | |
| 330400 | " | G. Reid | |
| 10027 | " | A. Methven | |
| 9885 | " | R. M'Arthur | |
| 42591 | " | H. Cameron | |
| 302447 | " | J. O'Donnell | |
9th Battalion
The band was kept out of action as far as possible as it was regarded as an invaluable asset on the march and in billets.
11th Battalion
In spite of their frequent requests to be allowed to play in action the pipers were not permitted to do so, as the band was regarded as too valuable.
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| 3451 | Pipe Major | J. Clark | |
| 227629 | Sergt. | W. Sinclair | |
| 27230 | Piper | Robert Marshall | Wounded, 7/7/16. |
| 8906 | Lance-Cpl. | W. Henry | |
| 200521 | Piper | W. Christie | |
| 29304 | " | G. Combe | |
| 29519 | " | J. Harper | |
| 29331 | " | T. Hermiston | |
| 41216 | " | R. Johnstone | |
| 40063 | " | G. Muir | |
| 20857 | " | W. Stewart | |
| 40057 | " | W. Bruce | |
| 40787 | " | A. Young | Wounded, 23/3/18. |
| 27237 | " | A. Potts | |
| " | J. Kane | Killed, 14/7/16. | |
12th Battalion
During the advance of the 26th Brigade at Loos in September, 1915, the companies were played to the attack by their pipers, and suffered heavily. Normally they were kept out of the front line owing to the difficulty of replacement. During the German offensive of 1918 they were in the ranks, and Pipe Major Colgan got the Military Medal "for good leadership and courage." The casualties among them were heavy, two having been killed and nine wounded.
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| 13283 | Pipe Major | A. Colgan, M.M. | Military Medal. |
| 10122 | " | R. Softley | Wounded, 25/9/15. |
| 12991 | Piper | Thomas Hislop | Killed, 25/9/15. |
| 200737 | Lance-Cpl. | P. West | Killed. |
| 13459 | " | William Fisher | Wounded, Sept., 1915; killed, 15/4/16. |
| 270322 | Piper | H. Barrie | |
| 31137 | " | D. Bowes | Wounded, 25/9/15. |
| 16036 | " | C. Campbell | |
| 13530 | " | W. Cowe | Wounded, 25/9/15. |
| 43280 | " | J. Gray | |
| 12991 | " | D. M'Donald | Wounded, 25/9/15. |
| 270099 | " | J. M'Intyre | |
| 3404 | " | N. M'Intyre | |
| 270324 | " | J. M'Knight | |
| " | G. M'Phee | ||
| 43345 | " | A. Robertson | |
| 6392 | " | J. Robertson | Wounded four times. |
| 270326 | " | D. Ross | |
| 40300 | " | D. Thomson | Wounded, 1916. |
| 18516 | " | G. Watson | Wounded, 1916. |
13th Battalion
At Loos, 25th September, 1915, and in subsequent actions, the pipers were employed as bearers. There were heavy casualties among them in the last advance in 1918, when 2 were killed and 5 wounded.
15th Battalion
The battalion was played to the attack on Fricourt on the 1st July, 1916, by Pipe Major David Anderson, who was subsequently awarded the Croix de Guerre. Only one decoration was available for the Division, and his was considered the most conspicuous act of bravery.
16th Battalion
After suffering heavy losses this battalion was absorbed by the 9th Royal Scots.
17th Battalion
The pipers, when employed in action at all, went as bearers.
| REG. NO. RANK. | NAME. | RECORD. | |
| Pipe Major | M'Donald | Invalided. | |
| " | Donald M'Lean | Became Lieut. 1st Gordons; killed, July 1918. | |
| " | A. M'Phedran | ||
| Corpl. | C. M'Kinnon | ||
| Lance-Cpl. | Lawrie | Prisoner of war. | |
| " | J. Moon | ||
| Piper | Ramage | Wounded; invalided. | |
| " | Calder | ||
| " | Swanson | Wounded; invalided. | |
| " | Wilson | Invalided. | |
| " | Douglas | Invalided. | |
| " | M'Anulty | ||
| " | Peebles | ||
| " | M'Garvie | ||
| " | Brennan | ||
| " | J. Thomson | ||
| " | A. Collins | ||
| " | Jas. Hogg | ||
| " | P. Mack | ||