General Chat

Bill Millin laid to rest to-day in Devon.

I have added this as I didn't know who Piper Bill was. May he rest in peace, life's work very well done.


William 'Bill' Millin (14 July 1922 – 17 August 2010), commonly known as Piper Bill, was personal piper to Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, commander of 1 Special Service Brigade at D-Day.

He was born on 14 July 1922. Millin is best remembered for playing the pipes whilst under fire during the D-Day landing in Normandy. Pipers had traditionally been used in battle by Scottish and Irish soldiers however the use of bagpipes was restricted to rear areas by the time of the Second World War by the British Army. Lovat, however, ignored these orders and ordered Millin, aged 21, to play. When Private Millin demurred, citing the regulations, he recalled later, Lord Lovat replied: “Ah, but that’s the English War Office. You and I are both Scottish, and that doesn’t apply.” He played "Hielan' Laddie" and "The Road to the Isles" as his comrades fell around him on Sword Beach. Millin states that he talked to German snipers who claimed they did not shoot him because they thought he was crazy.

This action was portrayed in the 1962 film The Longest Day. Millin was portrayed by Pipe Major Leslie de Laspee, the official piper to the Queen Mother in 1961.

Millin's original bagpipes are exhibited at the Memorial Museum of Pegasus Bridge in Ranville, France.

French fundraisers have been trying to raise £80,000 to erect a statue of Piper Millin at Colleville-Montgomery, a town on Sword Beach, but have been disappointed by only six of the eighty seven donations having come from the UK.

Bill Millin died on 17 August 2010, aged 88 in Devon, England.

The bagpipes he played on Sword beach are now displayed at Dawlish museum. Millin presented his pipes to Dawlish Museum prior to the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in 2004, along with his kilt, beret and dirk. These items are still on display at the museum library with photographic archives and looped video telling of Millin’s exploits.



Lizx

Thank you for adding that information for those
who did not know anything about him, I was hoping
someone would do exactly what you have done.
Emmax

Hi Emma, you are welcome.

I was impressed when watching the Edinburgh Tattoo on Monday, the piper there played the same tune as his own dad had played on the same pipes many years ago.

Love the tattoo but I would it's in me blood.
Always very moving especially when that
chap sang Here's to the Heroes and soldiers
faces showed on the wall of the castle.
Emmax