THE rain last Sunday may have been torrential, but the determination to honour those who made the greatest sacrifices was resolute.
This year at Dunoon’s Remembrance service, at the war memorial, veterans, emergency services, Scouts, Girl Guides and local residents gathered in the heavy rain to pay their respects.
Reverend Janet MacKellar opened the ceremony and began her reflection by talking about Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, born in Dunoon in 1875 — a highly regarded composer of Highland piping music, who served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery.
Reverend MacKellar explained that for generations Highland regiments have advanced to the sound of the bagpipes. In the First World War, pipers climbed out of the trenches, unarmed, to face machine guns and shells. They were the advancing front of many battles — unparalleled bravery.
German troops on the Western Front nicknamed them “Ladies from Hell”, a term used to describe the kilted Scottish soldiers’ ferocity.
Reverend MacKellar said: “In the quiet moments of remembrance, as we honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served in times of war, we must also pause to reflect on the haunting and heroic role of our pipers — those who carried not weapons, but music, into the heart of battle.
“The sound of the bagpipes, mournful and resolute, has long been a symbol of defiance, unity and remembrance. On the battlefield, pipers were more than musicians; they were beacons of morale, guiding troops forward with melodies that stirred the soul and steadied the heart. In the chaos of combat, their music cut through fear and confusion, reminding soldiers of home, heritage and the cause for which they fought.”
She added: “Their legacy endures — not only in the books of military history but in the ceremonies and commemorations that continue to this day. The lament of the pipes at memorials and funerals evokes a deep emotional resonance, connecting generations through shared grief and shared pride.
“Pipers embodied a unique kind of courage: the courage to face danger armed only with tradition and song. Their music was a lifeline, a rallying cry and a tribute to the fallen. In remembering them, we honour not just their bravery, but the enduring power of music to inspire, to heal and to remember.”
Reverend MacKellar went on to talk about a song written by Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) and performed by popular traditional band Skippinish.
A Piper to the End is a deeply emotional tribute that captures that spirit, that sacrifice and that symbolism of pipers in war.
