The Great Highland Bagpipes: An Instrument of War

There is no sound quite like the bagpipes. Some people love them, and others not so much. But one thing remains clear - they have a very ancient and deeply rooted emotional link to our human history.

Queensland Police Pipe Band marching down Queen Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (1958-59).

First Appearances

The very concept of bagpipes dates back centuries. The exact origins of them are uncertain, with their arrival in Scotland being somewhat of a mystery. The Scots weren’t exactly all that wrapped on writing things down, they were barbarians after all. Some historians claim that they likely evolved from similar instruments found in ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans and likely introduced to Scotland by way of conquests of Roman legionnaires through their interactions with other cultures.

Whilst others believe they were brought over the water by neighbouring tribes in Ireland, some claim that they originally belonged to the Irish rather than Scottish. To me, it just sounds like typical Irishmen trying to humorously pinch the spotlight away from the Scots.

However, Ancient Egypt may have a strong claim to the instrument. From as early as 400 BC, the ‘pipers of Thebes’ are reported to have been blowing pipes made from dog skin with chanters of bone.

Several hundred years later, one of the most famous exponents had stated that the Roman Emperor Nero may well have been piping whilst watching Rome burn to the ground. Nero wasn’t exactly known for his sanity. However, the earliest evidence of bagpipes in Scotland dates back to the 14th century.

Their rise in Scotland - A weapon in war

They were first mentioned in the Battle of Pinkie when pipes replaced trumpets to aid the Highlanders in the roar of battle. It is said that their shrill and penetrating sound could be heard on the battlefield over 15 kilometres away, but quite frankly, that sounds a bit far-fetched.

As an instrument of war, they played a critical role in conveying signals, coordinating troops, and inspiring morale in soldiers. Pipers were considered high-ranking members of Scottish clans and often held esteemed positions within their communities. It was the norm to have a piper present on a number of special occasions such as feasts, celebrations and in the farewells of those who had since passed. A quote by an unknown author that summarises this tradition well:

“It is said that a piper helps direct departed souls towards the gates of Heaven, where at the closing of a funeral, the piper’s lone march symbolises leading the departed to the Hereafter, yet stopping short of the Gate through which he cannot pass.”

During the 18th century, following the unsuccessful Jacobite Rebellion and defeat of the Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden, the English back in London were determined to crush the rebellious clan system. In other words, the Red Coats were basically out to annihilate anything that gave charge or authority to the Scots - weaken them by trying to erase any of the heritage they had left.

Political Eradication

The sheer power of the bagpipes on the battlefield was so significant that they were regarded as an 'instrument of war.' Their haunting sound was not just mere music, but a tool of psychological warfare — meant to bolster the spirits of comrades and strike fear into the hearts of the enemy, serving as a symbol of defiance, strength, and intimidation.

A piper by the name of James Reid, a Jacobite rebel, was captured and taken prisoner at Culloden Marsh along with many other Jacobites, after the gruesome loss on the battlefield. Reid would later go on trial for treason against the Crown, and laid claim that he wasn’t a solider, being unarmed with only a set of bagpipes to aid him on the battlefield.

Regardless, the English were not willing to show any mercy and a jury found him guilty of treason, under the pretence that Highland regiments “never marched without a piper; and therefore [Reid’s] bagpipe, in the eye of the law, was an instrument of war.” Without any hesitation, Reid was hung for his crimes against the Crown. This verdict is considered the first ever recorded ruling of a musical instrument being classified as a weapon of war.

Scotland was later imposed with several political mandates, which resulted in social changes that impacted the bagpipes and the Scottish culture in a big way. The Act of Proscription, enacted in 1746, aimed to suppress Highland traditions, by declaring that the wearing of tartan and the practice of bagpipes was a crime against the Crown.

The English knew how empowering the bagpipes were for the Scots in acts of rebellion, so it was thought that by forbidding these practices it would cease their demands to self-govern. Be it as it were, it wouldn’t stop the Highlanders from continuing to take pride in their traditions, despite the Act.

Their use in modern wartimes

The Scots continued to embrace their culture in secret, which also meant that many pipers somehow maintained the tradition in secret. In the early 19th century, the law was repealed and since the expansion of the British empire world-wide, interest in Scottish culture had revived, and the bagpipes experienced a resurgence.

Pipers at the Battle of Delville Wood. Retrieved from https://www.historynet.com/ladies-from-hell-bagpipers-led-the-charge-during-wwi/

Often spearheading the various campaigns of the British Army would be one of the famous highland regiments, the “Devils in Skirts” where at the head of each regiment an unarmed piper would lead the troops into and beyond the “jaws of death”. Notably, during the events of World War I the Germans had nicknamed Scottish battalions the “Ladies from Hell” due to their many pleats and unparalleled bravery on the battlefront. The sound of the pipes would spread terror among the enemy, where if one piper were to fall another would seemingly arise from the trenches to take his place, as the boom of the pipes would give the men courage.

Massed Pipes & Drums at “The Gathering” held at Ipswich Racecourse on May 23, 2021.

The Great Highland Bagpipes, as we know them today, are often heard before they are seen.

Either as a soloist or in a full-blown pipe band, the instrument has undergone several modifications and refinements throughout history and now consists of three main parts: the bag, the chanter, and the drones. The bag, traditionally made of sheep or elk skin provides a continuous, pressurised reservoir of air to supply the chanter that is used to play the melody, and the drones produce the harmonising bass.

The pipes continue to marvel the populace as the unmistakable symbol of Scotland and will continue to be appreciated by generations to come.

The Queensland Police Juvenile Pipes & Drums at “The Gathering” in 2021.