Pipe Major David Anderson
July 1, 1916 found Pipe Major David Anderson of the 15th Royal Scots on the front lines of Britain’s bloodiest engagement; the battle of the Somme. Like the brave men featured in the ‘Pipes of War’ film series, Pipe Major Anderson led his company ‘over the top’ and went on to earn recognition for his bravery. Though his name name has not come down through history in the same spotlight as Richardson’s, Finladter’s, or Laidlaw’s, his deeds that day were remarkable.
No other single day in history has claimed as many British lives as that first morning of July. For the five months of fighting before the battle was called off on the 18th of November, the forces of the Commonwealth had claimed only 10 kilometers of ground from the German forces.
The attacked opened early in the morning with the 15th battalion of the Royal Scots being played forward by Pipe major Anderson. He chose to lead them into ‘no man’s land’ to the old regimental tune “Dunbarton’s Drums.” Anderson was hit just after going over the top, but continued to play.
Walking through the hail of gunfire and clouds of smoke, Anderson unaccompanied and wounded, arrived at an occupied German trench. His appearance must have been something, as the German soldiers promptly threw up their hands and surrendered to the unarmed piper.
Regaining the company of his men, Anderson advanced to the third line of trenches where he again took another round. He fell to the ground, stunned and bleeding. After a moment he was able to raise himself to a seated position where he continued to pipe his comrades on. While he played in this position a German shell exploded beside him. The shrapnel shattered his drones and pelted his body. Injured as servely as he was, Pipe Major Anderson rose to his feet and was almost immediately attacked by a German soldier. Anderson, unarmed, succeeded in knocking the German cold with his bare fists and then, taking the German’s rifle, he continued fighting until overcome by the loss of blood.
Miraculously Anderson survived to recieve the one ‘Croix de Guerre’ allotted to the battalion for the most conspicous act of bravery. As a side note, the pipes that he had been playing until destroyed by the bursting shell were of historical importance. They had been carried and played by a member of Captain Robert Scott’s famous expedition to the Antarctic. What’s more is that they had also been carried to the opposite pole in the Arctic expedition of 1907.
History then falls silent on the subject of Pipe Major David Anderson. Where and when he died may be recorded with the Royal Scots in Edinburgh, Scotland, but attempts to obtain such accounts have yet to bear fruit. What has been preserved is the moment of courage and gallantry. Where so many pipers fought and died to seal their defining act, Pipe Major Anderson fought like a warrior Scot of old… and lived.
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The Battle of the Somme (1916) – Movie…
Note 6.6/10. The Battle of the Somme is a War Movie of 1916 made in UK. Here you can see online its cover, plot summary, cast, directors, trailers, awards and more….
hello, David Anderson was my maternal great-grandfather. His war medals are framed and hang in my mother’s home. I have recently stumbeld upon a treasure trove of newspaper clippings from the period, describing his heroics, as well as several photos of him. There are also newspaper clippings from 1927, when he embarked on a “pilgrimage” in the company of “Lady Grey”,and others, to the French batllefields and cemeteries of the 1st world war.. Interesting stuff!!! Thanks for compiling this information and for publishing it on the web. Feel free to contact me if you would like to obtain copies of the photos, etc.
Hello Joanna,
I’m working on a BBC Scotland documentary about bagpipers in WW1, and are actually looking for descendents of pipers who fought in the Great War. We’d love to find out more about PM David Anderson.
If you see this, could you possibly email me at johnny.crockett@bbc.co.uk ? Thank you very much,
Johnny
hello Joanna
would it be possible that you send a photo (copy) of DAVID IN UNIFORM , because I’m collecting WW1 pipers photos to write a book about hem, many thanks for answer, Yves
i
hello Joanna
would it be possible that you send a photo (copy) of DAVID IN UNIFORM , because I’m collecting WW1 pipers photos to write a book about hem, many thanks for answer, Yves
David Anderson was a police constable in Edinburgh City Police before the war and returned to that job, where he was a member of the police pipe band until well into the 1930’s. The account of the action is described, partly in his own words” in Jack Alexanders history if the 16th RS – “McCraes Battalion”.
I have spent 25 years researching the history of the Edinburgh Police PB and have several photos from the 20’s and 30’s which show David Anderson wearing his WW1 medals – including his Criox de Guerre.
Stewart Gardiner
Linlithgow, Scotland
David Anderson, a police officer from Edinburgh enlisted in the Royal Scots at age 24. According to his great-grandchildren, Pipe Major Anderson was a Scottish patriot who joined the Royal Scots when the First World War broke out in 1914. (Courtesy of Joanna Wright)