The piper, be he Highlander, or Lowlander, or Scot from Overseas, has accomplished the impossible--not rarely and under favourable conditions, but almost as a matter of routine; and to him not Scotland only but the British Empire owes more than they have yet appreciated. In doing so he has sacrificed himself; and Scotland--and the world--must face the fact that a large proportion of the men who played the instrument and kept alive the old traditions have completed their self-imposed task. With 500 pipers killed and 600 wounded something must be done to raise a new generation of players; it is a matter of national importance that this should be taken in hand at once, and that the sons of those who have gone should follow in the footsteps of their fathers. This is the best tribute that can be offered to them. The Piobaireachd Society intend to institute a Memorial School of piping for this purpose, and all profits from the sale of this book will be handed over to their fund. The compilation of the statistical portions of the work has involved correspondence with commanding officers, pipe presidents and pipe majors of many units in the Imperial armies; to them, for their enthusiastic assistance in obtaining information, is due the credit for the mass of detail that has been made available. To the other contributors--authors, artists and poets--is due in large measure such success as may follow the publication of this work. They have helped a cause worthy of their efforts. It is earnestly to be hoped that Scotland will rise to the occasion. To the compilers it has been a privilege to record the achievements of men--many of them personal friends--who contributed so largely to the success of their gallant regiments. B. S. J. G. CONTENTS PAGE FOREWORD BY FIELD-MARSHAL EARL HAIG OF BEMERSYDE, K.T. v PREFACE vii THE PIPES OF WAR. By BREVET COL. SIR BRUCE SETON, Bart., of Abercorn, C.B. INTRODUCTION 3 A HISTORY OF THE PIPES 9 THE PIPES IN THE WAR, 1914-1918 The Western Front 18 Gallipoli 31 Salonika 33 Mesopotamia 33 The Last Stage 34 Pipers in the Ranks 35 Pipers on the March 37 Pipe Tunes 42 Individual Achievements 46 Foreigners and the Pipes 63 The Pipes in Captivity 64