As an avid archer and fledgling bagpiper, I was reading on the history of the bagpipes as a weapon of war throughout Scottish military history.

I came across a most interesting story of an equally interesting man.

Long story, so here's a small sample: Jack "Mad Jack" Churchill was an English officer who went to war only with bagpipes, a longbow, and a Scottish broadsword (mistakenly called a claymore).

His company set an ambush for a German patrol in France in 1940. He signaled the attack to begin by killing a German sergeant with a "barbed arrow", making him the only known archer to do so in the war.

His history is remarkable, and there's a photograph of him running onto Sword Beach on D-Day with his broadsword in hand.

Quite a read! He said, any officer without a sword was out of uniform. Other actions, he led his men playing the pipes!

Those boys clanked when they walked!!!

I read an article about him years ago. Apparently, the NAZis became suicidal and depressed when they heard the bagpipes.

Bagpipes, huh? Remember this one........??

As a bagpiper I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. The departed had no family or friends, and the service was to be at a pauper’s cemetery in rural Kentucky. I was not familiar with the backwoods and got lost, and being a typical man I didn’t stop for directions.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw that the funeral workers were gone, and the hearse was nowhere in sight. Only the diggers and their equipment remained, and the men were eating lunch in the shade of a nearby tree.

I felt bad about being too late for the ceremony and I apologized to the workers. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and saw that the vault lid was already in place. I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and gathered around with their hardhats in hand. I played my heart and soul out for that man with no family and no friends. I played for that homeless man like I’ve never played for anyone.

I played Amazing Grace, and as I played the workers began to weep. They wept and I wept, and we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car I heard one of the workers say,

"I have never seen or heard of anything like that, and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years!"

Dang...hook line and sinker

:)

Lol

The great "Mad Jack" Churchill's exploits (many more besides his famous last use of English Long Bow in continental military operations) have popped up on the Leatherwall many times over the decades. Always good to have a reminder!

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

One other thing about the bagpipes, specifically the Scottish Highland bagpipes;

"Why are the bagpipers always marching?" "They are trying to get away from the noise!"

I know, it's not "noise"- but they are loud! I once attempted a duet with one (me on acoustic guitar) INSIDE the old Eagle Tavern in NYC. Forget it! Couldn't here myself, deaf for a couple of days.

One interesting thing about Churchill is that he grew up on an estate, and had the run of the woods and game, and was a passionate bowhunter. In that regard he might go down as one of the early models like P&Y, Hill, Bear, etc... who set down the doctrine, except it wasn't picked up, and I don't even know how well it was recorded. And bowhunting is mostly illegal in the UK and some of Europe.

That is how I remember it, though this article seems to contradict any experience in hunting, leading me to wonder if I have the right Englishman.

http://www.bow-international.com/features/traditional/mad-jack-churchill-soldier-and-archer/

Dan W...yes they are LOUD! I play, and my wife will attest to it...lol.

I just got home from the cemetery to play my dad a couple tunes, and feed some mosquitoes...WOW ARE THEY BAD!

In regard to why do the Scots march when piping...because it's hsrder to hit a moving target! Lol

Bowlim...I think it's the same guy. A true eccentric English gentleman, albiet a fierce warrior. After escaping from 1st, a concentration camp after being captured, he was sent to a military POW camp where he again escaped and made it to American lines.

After being sent back to England for reassignment, he requested, and was granted, being assigned to a Scottish outfit.

Hollywood couldn't write a fictional storyline to match "Mad Jack's" exploits...lol.

And, in his own words;

"Any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed."

Some more characteristic bits from Wiki-

-In July 1943, as commanding officer, he led 2 Commandos from their landing site at Catania in Sicily with his trademark Scottish broadsword slung around his waist, a longbow and arrows around his neck and his bagpipes under his arm,[20] which he also did in the landings at Salerno.

-By the time Churchill reached India, the war ended. Churchill was said to be unhappy with the sudden end of the war, saying: "If it wasn't for those damn Yanks, we could have kept the war going another 10 years!"

Very timely; remembering this incredible, true modern day warrior's awesome martial spirit on this MEMORIAL DAY.

Love IT!!!

There are several published versions of his killing the German, but all are consistent that he was in an elevated position surrounded by well armed troops and the Germans[5 or 3] were unaware of his presence. He ordered his troops to hold off till he shot the one German before annihilating the others. He was in no danger during the engagement.

He was though, a talented target archer and a member of the British team that competed in the World Archery Championships in Oslo, and an eccentric and flamboyant personality.

Compounds were used in Nahm.

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