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Sent in by RNPS members and Friends
Marine Pipers in 1772 - ‘To apply to Captain
Collier, Nore, for and embark two marines with bagpipes on board
Resolution and Adventure and to discharge to headquarters at
Chatham two marines to make room for them.’ Admiralty to Navy Board.
Letter, dated 9 May 1772. ADM 2/1166. Australian National Library.
Quoted in Cook, James. Vol. II. op. cit., p. 928.
Pipes in the East - an extract from Doug
Mortimer’s recollections of serving in a minesweeper in the Far East
between 1943 and 1945 taken from the BBC’s website “WW2 People's War”,
an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the
public. The archive can be found at
www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar
(Article ID A2695575, contributed on 03 June 2004) From the Piping Times - "Picture of the Month"
"This month's picture may seem rather mundane but we feel there may be a decent story lurking here. This banner was found in the depths of the Museum of Piping archives. It shows what appears to be a flag of the Royal Navy and if so it clearly must have been used by a pipe major or piper in a Navy band. We are not aware of any full time RN bands at the moment but we are aware that there must be a few salty types out there who could put us right as to the specifics of the banner and/or Navy piping. All information gratefully received - email College of Piping". The College have been appraised of the RNPS but it would still be interesting to know a bit more about the banner - any clues? [picture provided by the Piping Times 16th May 2007]
From AB ‘lofty’ John Mills 'World War 2 - Peoples War' recollections of life
as gun crew
aboard the destroyer HMS Voltage in 1944 - “............Back in Scapa Flow,
visits from oil barge, the drifters busy as usual carrying stores to us.
We had a shore leave to Stromness naval shore base. The picture
showing was Jane Russell in The Outlaw. I had a beer in the fleet
canteen with my mates, the place was full of matloes, a run down place,
we were not impressed and never went ashore again. Lieutenant
Scott, our gunnery officer, on many evenings would play his bagpipes on
B gun deck. Which meant that pipe “Cover guns” at sunset the gun crews
would toss a coin for the unfortunate one to endure the ordeal of
executing that duty. A shipmate would come running into the mess deck
stating that Scotty’s bagpipes were going ashore by boat, a sign that we
would be going to sea again............... Scapa Flow still our base,
September 15th bagpipes ashore. We are going on a Russian convoy
ourselves with some apprehension knowing of the horrendous sea journeys
that entails." Band C/Sgt Dave Wright RM (HMS Heron VBI) after Cologne 2006: "As always the professionalism of all those involved was fantastic and a personal thank you to all of you who took part, including the RN pipers who may take my music, but will never take my freedom, as without you all none of it would have been possible. Thanks for letting me conduct your Band! [extracted from the Heron Band Section of the Band service website on 30 Aug 06]
And all that Jazz -
Another meaning for the phrase "fully mounted pipes" - One of the most fascinating and unusual pipe bands to be formed during World War 1 was the Mounted Pipe Band of the First Canadian Mounted Rifles. The original marching band was formed in Brandon, Manitoba, in December, 1914, where the unit was mobilised and remained for the winter of 1914. Band members were approached in the spring by the battalion officers to have a try at a mounted band. The pipers and drummers were surprised at the manner in which the horses calmly responded to the skirling of the pipes and the rat-tat-tat of the drums. The horses were quite fresh off the range and had been broken by bronco busters, whom saddle broke them and thoroughly trained them within a matter of weeks. All of them were trained to respond to knee guidance for direction and keep perfect step while the band was playing. The band was nineteen strong when they left Brandon and remained the only mounted pipe band organised in Canada. On their arrival in France they were dismounted and converted to Infantry. Their jobs included stretcher bearing and working with ration parties. They had many casualties in the band but were reorganised prior towards the end of the war and appeared on Dominion Day, July 1st, 1918, in the Corps Sports and Ceremonial Parade at Tinques. Their performance was described in the history of the 50th Battalion "No Man's Land": "The most unusual thrilling sight of the colourful occasion was the spectacular march past of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division. The Regiment was led by the mounted pipe band of twelve pipers and eight drummers and their beautiful chargers visibly enjoyed their splendid role to the tune of the regimental march past, Highland Laddie. They were, at that time, the world's first completely mounted band and they made the most of the honour." [extracted from a Canadian website late 05] Anyone recognise this marine piper?
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Rufus Harley: 1936 - 2006 of African-American and Cherokee
descent and self styled "world's first jazz bagpiper". He
accompanied John Coltrane and Dizzy Gillespie amongst others adapting
pipes to jazz, blues, funk and many other styles. Originally a
saxophonist he was inspired by the Black Watch band playing at President
Kennedy's funeral in 1963 and bought a set of pipes in a Jewish pawnshop
in New York for $120. Something to think about.....
[extracted from his obituary 15 Aug 06]
