Bill Millin, Scottish D-Day Piper, Dies at 88

When you think about D-Day, your mind conjures up images of transport boats, strafing gunfire, the cries of the wounded….and bagpipes?

This week Scot Bill Millin passed away. As a 21 year old private, Millin was ordered to walk up and down Sword Beach, playing his bagpipes to boost the troops’ morale. Unarmed and wearing a kilt, he played songs like “Highland Laddie” and “Road to the Isles” while the Germans raked the beach with gunfire.

Read Millin’s obituary here.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

ced August 21, 2010 at 1:29 pm

God rest your brave soul and thank you for your service and music

Lee August 23, 2010 at 9:27 pm

As a piper myself, I can certainly appreciate the bravery of a man like this. Those who have heard bagpipes know that they are loud, and that they draw attention. May this great soul rest in peace and may there be many more like him to come.

Michael August 24, 2010 at 3:52 am

Being a German and a member in a Pipeband myself (as a Side Drummer) I am glad for the effort people have taken to fight Nazism and liberate Europe.

We played for an elder Gentleman on his Birthday here in Germany. After we stopped playing he invited us to stay for another beer and told me, that in the war he had been a German soldier in France. He remembers the sound of pipes, as he knew that “in the morning we had to get up and kill those people making this music”. He was glad that this age of hate and war had ended and that he could now freely enjoy this music, knowing he did not have to kill anyone anymore.
He actually had tears in his eyes while telling me this.

Blackwatch members can still be seen in Africa or Iraq. I wish that people there also will be able to enjoy piece.

Thanks again to those who sacrificed their lifes some 60 years back.

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