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D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:14 am
by Karl/Pa.
Image

D-Day bagpiper dies at 88
Updated 11 hours 44 minutes ago

Piped troops ashore: Bagpiper Bill Millin in 1994 (Reuters)

The Scottish bagpiper who played as Allied forces stormed ashore in German-occupied France in 1944 has died at the age of 88.

Bill Millin, personal piper of Lord Lovat, was with British commandos as they landed on Sword Beach on D-Day.

Mr Millin began playing Hieland Laddie immediately upon jumping into the water, as soldiers fell around him, and continued amid the incoming gunfire.

He continued to belt out tunes throughout the landing, marching up and down the shoreline. German prisoners later said they had not shot at him because they believed he was mad.

Speaking in 1995, Mr Millin said he was sure not how he managed to march up and down the shore. "Those days, when you're very young, you do some very foolish things," he said.

"If I had to do it now, I'd think twice. But that was my job as piper and working at the front didn't make any difference at the time."

Mr Millin was also part of the group that captured the French port city of Ouistreham and travelled with Lord Lovat to Benouville, playing the bagpipes as the troops advanced.

Mr Millin came under sniper fire twice in Benouville, but on both occasions he played the soldiers off despite the danger.

His action was depicted in the 1962 film, The Longest Day.

Re: D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:39 am
by Candyman
It is so sad that these true heros, that saved the world, are almost all gone.

Semper Fi Mate.

Re: D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:34 am
by DuncaninFrance
True, but I can think of a few Scots with the pipes who should be shot on sight :cool: :lol:

Re: D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:40 am
by Aughnanure
Och! Anither wun we nae appreciaaation o' music. Tis th' wine does it, ye shoulda stuck tae th' uisce baugh :lol: :lol:

Re: D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:13 am
by joseyclosey
Quote: Bill Millin.....

“I was the only one with a kilt, and I wasn’t armed. My most traumatic experience was jumping into the cold water.”

http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/o ... -1.1049160

I don't mind the pipes myself,

Joe ;)

Re: D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 12:05 pm
by Niner
"He played himself in the Longest Day".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUs5AfrNjc

Re: D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 3:23 am
by DuncaninFrance
Many years ago, 1978 I think, we spent a week in Drumbeg on Eddrachillis Bay on the NW Coast of Scotland. It was owned by a retired CPO who had bought it with his annuity when he left the RN. I remember him and a friend of his playing into the night in the bar. The noise (Ooops MUSIC!) echoed around the building as about 80% of it was built from wriggly tin sheet!!
When my Father asked what time the bar shut Andrew said "We don't call time here, it's very anti social!" :SCO: :SCO:

Re: D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 1:22 pm
by joseyclosey
DuncaninFrance wrote: "We don't call time here, it's very anti social!" :SCO: :SCO:

In my experience I have always find the Jocks very sociable. :lol:

Joe ;)