Bill Millin
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Bill Millin, commonly known as Piper Bill, was personal piper to Lord Lovat, commander of 1 Special Service Brigade at D-Day.
Millin is most famous for being the only piper to play during a World War II battle. Pipers had traditionally led Scottish troops into battle[1] however the death toll among pipers in World War I was so high that the practice was banned by the British high command. Lord Lovat, however, ignored these orders and Millin played Hielan' Laddie and The Road to the Isles as his comrades fell around him on Sword Beach[2]. All that saved him from being shot was that the superstitious German soldiers believed him to be mad.[3][4]
[edit] References
- ^ Scotland.com - History of Scotland
- ^ BBC News - Scotland's veterans remember D-Day
- ^ Buckingham Covers - About our signer
- ^ BBC News - Scotland's role in D-Day landings
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