The Piper on Sword Beach

"Thomas Donohue" (tomonomics)
06/06/2019 at 10:45 • Filed to: None

Not everyone had a gun on D-Day.....

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Below is from his obituary - the entire entry is linked below. I t’s well worth a read.

Millin began his apparently suicidal serenade immediately upon jumping from the ramp of the landing craft into the icy water. As the Cameron tartan of his kilt floated to the surface he struck up with Hieland Laddie. He continued even as the man behind him was hit, dropped into the sea and sank.

Once ashore Millin did not run, but walked up and down the beach, blasting out a series of tunes. After Hieland Laddie, Lovat, the commander of 1st Special Service Brigade (1 SSB), raised his voice above the crackle of gunfire and the crump of mortar, and asked for another. Millin strode up and down the water’s edge playing The Road to the Isles.

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DISCUSSION (5)

ttyymmnn > Thomas Donohue
06/06/2019 at 11:53

Either badass or crazy as a loon. Of course, the bagpipes have been a fixture in combat since 1547 and the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh.

benn454 > Thomas Donohue
06/06/2019 at 11:56

Incredibly brave individual, but to hell with that gloryhound CO.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Thomas Donohue
06/06/2019 at 12:07

ha... mad bastard

cant believe he got away with that

WRXforScience > Thomas Donohue
06/06/2019 at 15:11

If you like that, read up on “Mad Jack” Churchill (no relation) who fought in WWII with a basket hilt broad sword and a longbow. He also played the pipes during assaults and was one of a very few soldiers who was pissed when the Japanese surrendered before he could make it to the Pacific (maybe he was looking forward to a sword fight).

He has the distinction of being the last man to register an official kill with the longbow in battle. He survived the war and lived to 89.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > WRXforScience
06/06/2019 at 21:34

http://badassoftheweek.com/churchill.html

+ escaped from a POW camp