Memorial for pipers & drummers killed in battle

BAGPIPERS and drummers who have been killed in battle have been honoured with a memorial sculpture.

The memorial statue. Picture: Jon Savage

The eight-foot bronze sculpture of an Army piper was put in place on top of a cairn today/yesterday [FRI] at Redford Barracks in Colinton, Edinburgh.

The statue sits in a memorial garden which was created after soldiers at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming started fundraising when their colleague was killed in Afghanistan.

They have now raised enough money to build the sculpture, which recognises the sacrifice of all Army pipers and drummers lost their lives in conflict.

Captain Gordon Rowan explained why the soldiers decided to create the memorial.

He said: “Our players are musicians but they are soldiers first.

“Our bagpipers and drummers go to war and they serve.

“We’ve lost pipers and drummers in recent conflicts. We’ve lost friends.

“It was instructors here at the school who first thought of the idea to try and do something for those we’ve lost.

“Two years ago we lost a colleague, a drummer - killed in Afghanistan.

“I think we had a hard time dealing with it and needed a way to remember him and the others.

“We came up with the idea for a memorial garden.

“For students coming through the school to remember those who were killed and for the families too, giving them a place where they can come and have respite.”

Major Steven Small said it is important to remember those lost at war.

He said: “Pipers and drummers have shown bravery and given their lives throughout history, throughout all the many conflicts that we’ve been involved in and they’ve always done it while they’re inspiring soldiers to bravery.

“I think it’s completely appropriate and fitting that we now have a memorial that’s dedicated to pipers and drummers.

“It has been my passion throughout my life and it is through sadness and happiness that we have watched the bravery and the exploits of young pipers and drummers coming through.

“It has just fulfilled a lifelong desire of mine to make sure that these guys are remembered.”