Before WW1 modern 79th Cameron Highlanders in header picture
You see Kenneth Mackay at the Battle of Waterloo. More
Piper Kenneth Mackay was born and brought up in the village of Reay on the North coast of Caithness.
At the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 he famously ignored furious incoming enemy fire to play his pipes to encourage a beleaguered 79th Cameron Highlanders to ultimate victory.
During sustained cavalry attacks by Napoleon’s Army on Allied positions at the Battle, Piper MacKay stepped outside the relative security of the regimental square to play the rousing ancient tune Cogathd na Sithd (War or Peace, the Gathering of the Clans).
This act of individual bravery became famous after the battle.
After the battle the 79th were stationed in Paris and during this time Mackay was presented with a silver set of pipes by King George III. more
Hear a musical depiction here. It is hard to see what uniform is worn. Pipers write in with names of tunes, please here.
A former pupil, George MacKenzie left Glasgow Academy in 1959. He writes as follows:
Back in Hong Kong, in 1980, I made a visit to The Queen’s Own Highlanders, who were then based at Stanley Fort – a lovely old barracks, overlooking the South China Sea. I went to seek help and advice from their Pipe Major, Nick Gordon. Having finished our business, he very kindly invited me to the Sergeants’ Mess for a libation.
On entering the Mess, one was confronted by a huge oil painting, depicting one of the regiment’s early
battles. I expressed admiration for the painting, so Pipe Major Nick enlightened me… ‘Aye, Sur, that’s the famous painting of the 79th Cameron Highlanders at the battle of Waterloo. It shows Piper Kenneth MacKay playing outside the Regimental square, during an attack by the cuirassiers.’
I mumbled something about McKay’s bravery. The Pipe Major continued: ‘Aye, he was brave all right, but the
artist has made a grave error. I’ll bet you a wee dram that you canna’ spot the mistake.’
I studied the picture carefully, but could see nothing wrong. I started guessing, remarking that, perhaps, the
piper’s flashes were out of line; that his bonnet was on squint…etc…etc. After a while, I admitted defeat.
‘Well Sur; McKay was actually playing ‘Cogadh-no-Sith’, a famous pibroch. Look again at the picture. The artist has him playing an ‘F’ note. Well, there’s no ‘F’ in th’on Pibroch.’
Who was I to argue? The Pipe Major won his dram (yet again?) and, it was quite obvious that, the long departed Piper McKay was still playing for the ‘home team’!