Scotland, Little Swinton - Daniel Laidlaw: The Piper of Loos

Available for over a year

TD12 4HH Sergeant-Piper, King's Own Scottish Borderers Kevin Laidlaw tells the story of his great-grandfather Daniel Laidlaw VC, The Piper of Loos. Sergeant-Piper Daniel Laidlaw was an experienced soldier who volunteered to rejoin the army at the outbreak of the First World War. For his bravery in the battle of the Loos on 25 September 1915 he was awarded the Victoria Cross. "During the worst of the bombardment, Piper Laidlaw, seeing that his company was badly shaken from the effects of gas, with absolute coolness and disregard of danger, mounted the parapet, marched up and down and played the company out of the trench. "The effect of his splendid example was immediate and the company dashed out to the assault. Piper Laidlaw continued playing his pipes until he was wounded." Daniel Laidlaw survived the battle and the rest of the war and when he came home he became a celebrity and was invited to perform at many events which included playing the lament at the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in London. Image courtesy of National Museums Scotland