De Gaul said that fighting alongside the 51st at St Valerie persuaded him to continue the fight on the allied side .Their sacrifice was not in vain .Had nothing to do with Churchill ,who abandoned them , still took the credit. Most touching for me ,the words of a French civilian in the days after 6th June . "We heard the Pipes .It was the sound of freedom ".

When the 51st Highland Division marched at past Winston Churchill and General Allan Brooke Commander In Chief General Staff in Tunis in February 1943 General Allan Brooke was to say: It was quite the most impressive sights I have ever seen. The whole Division was most beautifully turned out, and might have been in barracks for the last three months instead of marching 1200 miles and fought many battles during the same period. As I stood alongside Winston watching the Division march past with the wild music of the pipes in my ears, I felt a lump rise in my throat and a tear run down my face. I looked at Winston and saw several tears on his face. For the first time I was beginning to live through the thrill of these first success that were now rendering ultimate victory possible. The Pipers were to march past a second time as they also let the New Zealand Battalion

My father was a Royal Engineer attached to the 51st Highland Division in 1940. He commanded a small squad of anti tank mining and demolition sappers. This was almost a suicide mission as you had to ensure as many British and French troops got over the bridges before mining or blowing it up. This meant operating just minutes before the arrival of the Germans. Following a German air attack on his truck an the loss of all their explosives and kit, they tried to make the French Coast but were captured on 14th June 1940. He spent nearly 5 years as a POW.

Wonderful topic, as a german Cameron admirer, reenactor and piper myself, I'm utterly impressed by the sheer heroism those men displayed... (while skirling awa you really shut out the "reality" surrounding yourself, you really are in another world, as any piper will confirm, I vouch...)

@billwilliams7566

11 ай бұрын

I'm a civilian piper. Once after a performance, a WW2 vet came up to me and told me that he and his fellow soldiers were pinned down by the Germans, and were about to be overrun and killed. Suddenly a bunch of "you guys" (Scottish soldiers with a piper) showed up and saved us. Well, I was born after WW2, thanked him for his comment, and told him I was honored to be spoken of within the same sentence as those heroes, but that I was not even born yet. He certainly had a high regard for the Heroes of the Highlands.

My thoughts and love to the memory of all the boys left behind at st Valerie.

@clanleslie

7 ай бұрын

Lost my Uncle on the Lancastrian.

@maconescotland8996

2 ай бұрын

St.Valery-en-Caux...................Valerie is a girl's name.

I was in hospital about 30 years ago. There was a man called Allan Buchanan on the ward who was a Brigade Major in the 51st Highland Division in the war. I got talking to him and he'd been through North Africa then Italy. Then he was withdrawn to go with Monty to help plan the D-Day landings.

My uncle Jim Matthew was captured at st valery 10 of June 1940 he was with the black watch royal highlanders and the 51st highland division he was marched from France to Poland pow camp he escaped 3 times he lived on till 2002

Thank you Isla

The most famous Scottish division in WW2. St Valery en Caux, 2nd Alamein and the Battle of the Reichswald are synonymous with the division. The victory parade of the division in Tunis was a great showcase of the prowess of the Scottish soldier. By the Normandy campaign they were tired and it took a change in divisional command to restore their effectiveness in battle. Sadly the Commanding General, Tom Rennie, who had been a major and i think an acting battalion commander in the division in 1940, was killed during the 1945 Rhine river crossing.

My uncle Charles was in the desert rats I'm very proud of him 💙

Great story. Lots of training film put in there.

My father served in the 51st second to none. From El Alemein to Bremervorde. He was a combat sapper. How he survived I have no idea. Friends are necessary in combat

@Barbreck1

6 ай бұрын

My grandfaither was wi him, John. Rab Hay was his name. Marched a the wai fae El Alamein tae Turin and was in the second row on the victory march parade. I still hae his cap badge. 👍

No mention of them being left behind in 1940. The bulk of the original 51st Div spent the war in POW camps. I am not trying to detract anything from their wonderful record later.

@pipersplay

9 ай бұрын

This clip is an introduction to the song rather than a history. You are right, units belonging to the Division did surrender in 1940. But the name of the Division did not become a prisoner of war and so was reconstituted with new battalions. The song refers to the division when part of the 8th Army in Sicily. The archive of course is what is available for that theme.

Does anyone else recognize the pipe tune that was used for the song at the end? The parts of rearranged, but it's without a doubt "Farewell to the Creeks". Great melody.

My uncle was in the 51st and in the North Africa and Italian campaigns.He told us one time they were in a stramash with some Afrika Korps when suddeny an artillery barrage opened up and they jumped into a big shell hole for cover then more jumped in .One of the highland laddies said " bloody germans " and a voice said " No jock its the bloody italians " .The hole was filled with scots and germans escaping the artillery .Later when the shelling stopped the germans jumped out the shell hole and headed for their lines shouting " cheerio jocks see you again "

Brilliant

Miss my grandad he was in the 51st

7th Bn (TA) were a Machine gun Bn in the 51 Division a bunch of Northumberland and Geordies

@williamkennedy9641

11 ай бұрын

The 51st Division's machine gun battalion came from the Middlesex Regiment.

The Highway decorators

I'm a Piper in Burlington Massachusetts I play my Dad's pipes from 1950

@josephmcgrathmusic6362

2 ай бұрын

Hardies

@josephmcgrathmusic6362

2 ай бұрын

I wear his kilt and Sorran

Reconnaissance Battalion of 51st Highland Division was the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry.

Bless the 51st Highlanders

My Dad was a 5th battalion seaforth highlander wounded at almein by were own artilery due to division.moving to fast sans peur 5th battalion moto

is this still avaliable commercially?

Brilliant. Where can I get the words to that haunting song. Thanks a wonderful video. 👍

@Dunbardoddy

3 ай бұрын

The pipie is dozie, the pipie is fey, He winna come roon’ for his vino the day. The sky ow’r Messina is unco an’ grey, An ’a’ the bricht chaulmers are eerie. Then fare weel ye banks o’ Sicily, Fare ye weel ye valley and shaw. There’s nae Jock will mourn the kyles o’ ye, Puir bliddy swaddies are wearie. Fare weel, ye banks o’ Sicily, Fare ye weel, ye valley and shaw. There’s nae hame can smoor the wiles o’ ye, Puir bliddy swaddies are wearie. Then doon the stair and line the waterside, Wait your turn, the ferry’s awa’. Then doon the stair and line the waterside, A’ the bricht chaulmers are eerie. The drummie is polisht, the drummie is braw He cannae be seen for his webbin’ ava. He’s beezed himsel’ up for a photy an a’ Tae leave wi’ his Lola, his dearie. Sae fare weel, ye dives o’ Sicily (Fare ye weel, ye shieling an’ ha’), We’ll a’ mind shebeens and bothies Whaur kind signorinas were cheerie. Fare weel, ye banks o’ Sicily (Fare ye weel, ye shielings an’ ha’); We’ll a’ mind shebeens and bothies Whaur Jock made a date wi’ his dearie. Then tune the pipes and drub the tenor drum (Leave your kit this side o’ the wa’). Then tune the pipes and drub the tenor drum A’ the bricht chaulmers are eerie. Tune: Farewell to the Creeks

@thomasmcloney1437

2 ай бұрын

Thank you. Very much appreciated. Cheers from Oz.

@thomasmcloney1437

2 ай бұрын

​@@Dunbardoddythank you. Much appreciated. Cheers from Oz. 👍

Proper soldiers

A lot of us on here are probably decendance of men who were mates

Is that Bonnie Henry???