D-Day’s Mad Piper Bill Millin Dies

The Glasgow bagpiper known as Mad Piper Bill has died. He was 88.

Bill Millin was the personal piper to Simon Fraser, the 15th Lord Lovat, and the commander of the 1st Special Service Brigade at D-Day.  Millin bravely stepped off the landing craft into the water and waded ashore with the first wave of troopers, while playing the pipes to rally the soldiers.

For a complete version of the event in Millin’s own words, click here. This was written before he became “too fat to play the part.”

Afterwards, I suggest you raise a glass to Bill Millin, and then take a few moments from your solo or band practice to play “Flowers” in his memory.

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