The 2nd Gordon Highlanders in Italy.
In the summer of 1918 the pipers, during the offensive, were attached for duty to the 23rd Field Ambulance. All the wounded had to be carried across a deep and very rapid burn, which was difficult to get across for a single man. These pipers, however, with four men to a stretcher and four more to steady them, and without their kilts and hose, succeeded in getting large numbers of casualties over. They stood in the water for many hours. Subsequently they went out to look for wounded and brought in many more. "But for the work of the pipers and drummers it would have been impossible to evacuate the wounded that night."
Piper George Paterson, 4th Gordon Highlanders.
In the fighting outside Cambrai in November, 1917, Piper Paterson played the battalion into action and charged in three successive waves; he also played it into Cantanig under heavy fire. Here he was wounded. He was awarded the Military Medal.
Piper William Webster, 4th Gordon Highlanders.
In the face of heavy fire during the retirement in March, 1918, repeatedly brought up ammunition to men in the front line. Was awarded the Military Medal.
| Piper | P. Bowie, | } | |
| Piper | P. Paterson, | } | 4th Gordon Highlanders. |
| Piper | R. Prentice, | } | |
| Piper | G. Davidson, | } |
In the Ypres fighting on 31st July, 1917, Piper Bowie rallied the men at a time when things were looking very bad. He was awarded the Military Medal. At the Marne, too, he and Pipers P. Paterson, R. Prentice, and G. Davidson played their companies into action "and the example set by them roused the troops to further efforts to force the enemy from a difficult position and enabled them to gain a great victory."
1985 Piper Charles Thomson, 5th Gordon Highlanders.
At Festubert Piper Thomson showed great courage as an observer, and repeatedly crossed a heavily shelled zone, which was also under fire by snipers, carrying messages to battalion headquarters.