In The News

D Day bagpiper dies

D Day bagpiper dies

The death has taken place of Bill Millin who became famous for playing his bagpipes during the D-Day landings.

Mr. Millin, who was 88, was a Commando serving with 1st. Special Service Brigade when the landings took place on the Normandy beaches.

He had been appointed as personal piper to Lord Lovat who was Brigade commander.

When he and his comrades came ashore on Sword Beach, Mr. Mullin began playing amid the gunfire. Many of his friends were cut-down by german gunfire but he escaped injury.

Later some german prisoners revealed that they had not opened fire on the piper because they believed he had gone off his head.

His bagpipe playing was immortalised in the film The Longest Day.

Mr. Millin donated his bagpipes to the National War Museum.

A statue of Mr. Millin playing the pipes is to be unveiled next year close to the beach where he landed on D-Day.

 

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