Bill Millin, July 14, 1922 - August 17, 2010
Colleville-Montgomery (sector Sword Beach), June 6, 1944.
Too many bagpipers had perished in the 1914 battles. Therefore, a ban on the use of the musical instrument on the battlefield had since been introduced.
Lord Lovat, Commander of the British 1st Special Brigade on D-Day knew it and so did his personal bagpiper, Bill Millin.
So when Bill started playing Highland Laddie, Lovat turned his head towards Bill, looked at him for a moment, smiled and continued on his way.
The reassuring sound of the bagpipe was the last thing those who fell, heard…
Bill, during the Summer of the Liberation, 1944
SWORD BEACH | RED QUEEN
Bill Millin, is affectionately known as “the crazy piper”. Crazy, for his companions, because he attracted the unwanted attention of the Germans ; crazy for the Germans who, astonished, spared his life.
Bill Millin, Sword Beach | © John Millin
French Corporal Maurice Chauvet, of the commando headed by Philippe Kieffer, remembered “on hearing the bagpipe, the Germans stopped firing, stunned to witness such a scene”.
Bill Millin, 1970 | © John Millin
The veteran, Tom Duncan, remembered: “…it reminded us of our homes and why we were there, fighting for our lives”.
Bill Millin, 1990 | © John Millin
TESTIMONIAL BY JOHN MILLIN
I knew from a very young age that my father was a war hero. Playing the pipes on D-day, secured his place in history.
He would have been very proud to have seen the statue of himself in Colleville-Montgomery.
He would often refer to Lovat’s speech prior to boarding the landing craft. Lovat said: in 100 years time, your children's children will look back and say, they must have been giants in those days !
It is now our responsibility to ensure that the memory of D-Day and our veterans never fades.
My father dedicated his post-war years to playing the bagpipes in memory of all those who fought and died in Normandy.
I and my son, Jacob, will continue the family tradition of playing the pipes, in their memory.
Jacob & John Millin | © John Millin
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