Document II: Alexander MacGillivray

in the Great War

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Audio Book

Document II: The Military Career of Alexander MacGillivray – Summary

My aim with this album is to let photos and documents speak for themselves — in other words, to have a minimum of verbal input. However, in the case of Alexander, this is difficult, so I will post an “extended summary.”

Alex was a piper in World War One. Information about his military career can be found on the following website: cefrg.ca/blog/lcpl-alexandermacgillivray-mm-in-the-great-war. I have also co-authored a semi-fictional story about Alexander, which is loosely based on the “facts,” posted on my website: macgillivray-culloden.com/alexander-macgillivray-the-piper.

LCpl Alexander MacGillivray was a piper who refused to draw lots, “He would go in anyway.” Any piper who had grounds for suspecting he had been discriminated against in the ballot, taunted his comrades with injustice, and insisted on accompanying the attacking troops. Brave men, who met death when it came to them unflinchingly.

Pipers

The pipers came up to their usual standard of coolness and gallantry. Before the attack started, Piper Alexander MacGillivray told the sergeant major, in confidence, that he felt “anxious.” He was afraid that, burdened as he was with his pipes and equipment, there might be a chance of the company men scrambling out in front of him, and so — to use his own words — “bring disgrace on a Highland piper.”

“Well, if you think that way,” said the sergeant major, “ask the company commander to allow you to climb out before us.” This the piper did, and when the barrage opened he led off the advance, well ahead of the attacking wave, playing his pipes.

Blue Line

LCpl Alexander MacGillivray’s gallantry in the assault was a source of inspiration to the troops on a wider battle front than that of the 16th. At the “Blue Line,” when the Brigade attack was reforming under fire for the further advance, this piper played without ceasing. He marched up and down before the 16th companies and then strode off to the front of the 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) where, as described in the following extract from the history of that Battalion, he made a profound impression:

“Just at this time,” the story reads, “when all ranks feeling the strain of remaining inactive under galling fire, and when the casualties had mounted to over 100, a skirl of the bagpipes heard, and along the 13th front came a piper of the 16th Canadian Scottish. This inspired individual, eyes blazing with excitement, and kilt proudly swinging to his measured tread, made his way along the line, piping as only a true Highlander can when men are dying, or facing death, all around him.

“Shell fire seemed to increase as the piper progressed and more than once it appeared that he was down, but the god of brave men was with him in that hour, and he disappeared, unharmed, to the flank whence he had come.”

Final Objective

MacGillivray was also one of the men who overshot the final objective. Well ahead of the rest of his comrades, he was set upon by a German. To defend himself he dropped his pipes, and later, when his enemy was disposed of, could not find them. He was very much worried over this loss and refused to go back to Battalion HQ, as all pipers had orders to do immediately the assault was over. He was ultimately persuaded to return on the promise by the company sergeant-major that he personally would look for the pipes and take charge of them. The sergeant-major found the pipes the next morning, about forty to fifty yards in front of the final objective.

He brought them back with him, but Alec MacGillivray was not there to claim his beloved instrument. He was seen to start from the front line on his return journey and then disappeared entirely from view — probably blown to pieces by a shell.

Vimy Memorial

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a war memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. LCpl Alexander MacGillivray MM is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial — the location of his remains unknown.

LCpl Alexander MacGillivray, who refused to draw lots, was killed at Hill 70. The capture of Hill 70 in France was an important Canadian victory during the First World War, and the first major action fought by the Canadian Corps under a Canadian commander. The battle, in August 1917, gave the Allied forces a crucial strategic position overlooking the occupied city of Lens.

Memorial Tablet

Siegfried Sassoon’s poem “Memorial Tablet” gives voice to a soldier killed in the war, reflecting bitterly on how his sacrifice is honoured with hollow, formal remembrance back home while the true cost of what he endured goes unacknowledged. As the poem remains under copyright, the full text is not reproduced here; it can be read or heard in David Suchet’s reading on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=-Sm7I7rDIh8.

World War One Pipers

During the First World War, Scottish pipers often played traditional Highland marches, quicksteps, and regimental tunes as troops advanced, including when going “over the parapet” (climbing out of the trench to attack). However, there was no single tune that all pipers played. The choice depended on the regiment, the piper, and the circumstances.

Some of the best-known tunes associated with Scottish regiments in World War I include:

Highland Laddie — one of the most famous Scottish military marches and commonly associated with Highland regiments. The Green Hills of Tyrol — a popular retreat and ceremonial tune, though not typically played during an assault. The Barren Rocks of Aden — a lively march often played by Highland regiments. Cock o’ the North — frequently used by the Gordon Highlanders. Blue Bonnets Over the Border — a well-known Scottish march used on military occasions. The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar — closely associated with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

Pipers served an important role beyond music. Before widespread radio communication, they helped maintain morale during attacks, signal movement and keep units together, and reinforce regimental identity under extreme stress.

This role was extraordinarily dangerous. Because pipers were highly visible and did not carry rifles while playing, they were frequent targets for enemy snipers and machine gunners. Hundreds of British Army pipers were killed or wounded during the war.

One of the most famous examples is Daniel Laidlaw, who, during the Battle of Loos in 1915, climbed onto the parapet and played despite heavy shellfire, inspiring troops to leave their trenches. For this act, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Accounts generally state that he played “Blue Bonnets Over the Border,” although some historical sources suggest that identifying the exact tune with certainty is difficult.

The image of pipers leading troops “over the top” has become one of the enduring symbols of Scottish participation in the First World War. While it did happen, it was not routine for every attack, and the practice became less common as the war progressed because of the extremely high casualties among pipers.

Read the full document in the interactive flipbook below.

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