Opening the text

Brave British soldiers and the Victoria Cross: a general account of the regiments and men of the British Army, and stories of the brave deeds which won the prize "for valour"

History

Brave British soldiers and the Victoria Cross: a general account of the regiments and men of the British Army, and stories of the brave deeds which won the prize "for valour"

Great Britain -- History, Military -- 19th century; Great Britain. Army -- Biography; Soldiers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Victoria Cross

“Fhairshon swore a feud
      Against the clan M’Tavish,
    Marched into their land
      To plunder and to ravish.

    “For he did resolve
      To extirpate ta vipers,
    With four-and-twenty men
      And five-and-thirty pipers.”

It is easy to find players on the bagpipes; performers whose accent
proves that they belong to the Highlands of Highgate or Holborn Hill,
may be heard in any street of London; but the genuine race of pipers,
with their chivalrous spirit, and their undying devotion to their own
regiments, has died out. The pipers even of our Scottish regiments are
rarely Highlanders by birth: they have generally been instructed in
the use of the instrument after entering the army. Such men may play
tolerably well, but they cannot be expected to have the old _esprit de
corps_.

A favourable exception is to be found in Ewen Henderson, the pipe-major
of the 1st battalion of the Scots Fusilier Guards, who is at once a good
piper and a genuine Highlander. He is a son of Angus Henderson of Annat,
who joined the 92nd when first raised, served with it till the battle of
Waterloo, rose to the rank of colour-sergeant, and lived till a few years
ago to enjoy his well-earned pension. Ewen is a worthy son of a worthy
sire: a living representative of what the pipers once were; a favourable
specimen of the Celtic race. He feels the dignity of his position as
pipe-major of a gallant regiment, and the sound of his war-pipe has
been heard at Alma and Inkerman. It has also sounded in more peaceful
scenes. He had the honour of performing before the Princess of Wales at
Buckingham Palace a few weeks after her arrival, and was rewarded with
some kind words and a golden Napoleon, which he wears at his watch chain
and will not part with till his dying hour. “Will you take five pounds
for it, Henderson?” said an officer to whom he showed it. “No, sir, not
five hundred!” said Ewen, with the chivalrous feeling of an old paladin.
The intrinsic value of the coin was less than a pound, but who shall
estimate its value in Ewen’s eyes? Long may he be spared to wear it!




[Illustration]




CHAPTER XI.

COLONEL BELL AND THE VICTORIA CROSS.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

Brave British soldiers and the Victoria Cross: a general account of the regiments and men of the British Army, and stories of the brave deeds which won the prize "for valour"

Great Britain -- History, Military -- 19th century; Great Britain. Army -- Biography; Soldiers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Victoria Cross

“Fhairshon swore a feud
      Against the clan M’Tavish,
    Marched into their land
      To plunder and to ravish.

    “For he did resolve
      To extirpate ta vipers,
    With four-and-twenty men
      And five-and-thirty pipers.”

It is easy to find players on the bagpipes; performers whose accent
proves that they belong to the Highlands of Highgate or Holborn Hill,
may be heard in any street of London; but the genuine race of pipers,
with their chivalrous spirit, and their undying devotion to their own
regiments, has died out. The pipers even of our Scottish regiments are
rarely Highlanders by birth: they have generally been instructed in
the use of the instrument after entering the army. Such men may play
tolerably well, but they cannot be expected to have the old _esprit de
corps_.

A favourable exception is to be found in Ewen Henderson, the pipe-major
of the 1st battalion of the Scots Fusilier Guards, who is at once a good
piper and a genuine Highlander. He is a son of Angus Henderson of Annat,
who joined the 92nd when first raised, served with it till the battle of
Waterloo, rose to the rank of colour-sergeant, and lived till a few years
ago to enjoy his well-earned pension. Ewen is a worthy son of a worthy
sire: a living representative of what the pipers once were; a favourable
specimen of the Celtic race. He feels the dignity of his position as
pipe-major of a gallant regiment, and the sound of his war-pipe has
been heard at Alma and Inkerman. It has also sounded in more peaceful
scenes. He had the honour of performing before the Princess of Wales at
Buckingham Palace a few weeks after her arrival, and was rewarded with
some kind words and a golden Napoleon, which he wears at his watch chain
and will not part with till his dying hour. “Will you take five pounds
for it, Henderson?” said an officer to whom he showed it. “No, sir, not
five hundred!” said Ewen, with the chivalrous feeling of an old paladin.
The intrinsic value of the coin was less than a pound, but who shall
estimate its value in Ewen’s eyes? Long may he be spared to wear it!




[Illustration]




CHAPTER XI.

COLONEL BELL AND THE VICTORIA CROSS.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Brave British soldiers and the Victoria Cross: a general account of the regiments and men of the British Army, and stories of the brave deeds which won the prize "for valour"

Brave British soldiers and the Victoria Cross: a general account of the regiments and men of the British Army, and stories of the brave deeds which won the prize "for valour"

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