Final Message from the Front

| October 8, 2014

I find myself working late into the night on the Pipes of War film project. As the 7th of October 2014 becomes the 8th my mind ponders what Jimmy must have been thinking 98 years ago this very night.  Only  a few hours earlier he would have “implored the Commanding Officer with tears in his eyes” for […]

The Canadian Scottish at Kitcheners’ Wood

| January 6, 2012

Two years after the “Terrific Drive” by the Canadians in April 1915, Frank Dadd composed this sketch. The fact that this was done so long after attests to the significance of that event in the war. In fact it was a major event in history. It marked the first significant use of poison gas as […]

Pipe Major David Anderson

| February 14, 2011

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…