Piper Bill Millin

**ccga3359** · 23rd March 08, 08:58 AM

Description: The British 2nd Army: Commandos of 1st Special Service Brigade landing from an LCI(S) (Landing Craft Infantry Small) on 'Queen Red' Beach, SWORD Area, at la Breche, at approximately 8.40 am, 6 June. The brigade commander, Brigadier the Lord Lovat DSO MC, can be seen striding through the water to the right of the column of men. The figure nearest the camera is the brigade's bagpiper, Piper Bill Millin
Source: IWMCollections IWM Photo No.: B 5103
Post-Work: User:W.wolny
Licence: Unrestricted in due to IWM

Neil, do we get a idea of your next project?
Todd, I include the Wiki link as they have a better picture tha Pegasus archive.

**The Ulsterman** · 23rd March 08, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Neil, do we get a idea of your next project?

You just never know.

I am amazed at the flood of replies,.....thanks fellas,..
Todd, thanks for the links, It's an interesting theory about the Lovat Scouts tartan, I read somewhere, that the tartan on the pipebag was Fraser (hunting)....but was totally baffled as to the kilt tartan he wore.
I was always under the impression, that he had landed wearing battledress,...but the quote you supplied proves otherwise.
I know there was a lot of controversy about weather the pipes in the Pegasus museum were indeed the actual pipes he played on D-Day.....and i heard that the Dawlish museum also boast to have THE pipes.

Thanks anyway gents,..i will do a lot more reading at the links, and try to come to some sort of conclusion,.............one thing i do know though,...the piper in the film "The longest day" wasn't Bill millin.
It is reputed, that bill played himself in the movie, but he was actually played by Pipe Major Leslie de Laspee, who was the piper to the Queen Mother in 1961.
I also heard that there were a lot more photographs (and perhaps footage) of Millin on D-Day, but this was destroyed on it's way back to England.
If this is true,...it's such a pitty,..it would have answered all our queries.
Thanks again folks.
Neil.

**macwilkin** · 23rd March 08, 10:46 AM

one thing i do know though,...the piper in the film "The longest day" wasn't Bill millin.
It is reputed, that bill played himself in the movie, but he was actually played by Pipe Major Leslie de Laspee, who was the piper to the Queen Mother in 1961.

Just a wee OT here, but Richard Todd, who played Major John Howard in the movie, served with the 6th Airborne Division at Pegasus Bridge.

Up the Ox and Bucks!

T

**The Ulsterman** · 23rd March 08, 10:50 AM

Indeed he did Todd,......and as you say,..."up the Ox and Bucks"...and of course the Royal Ulster Rifles. (glider division)

Neil.

**macwilkin** · 23rd March 08, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by The Ulsterman

Indeed he did Todd,......and as you say,..."up the Ox and Bucks"...and of course the Royal Ulster Rifles. (glider division)

Neil.

I had a good friend who dropped in with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regt., 82nd AB Division that day. He passed away in 1998 (may he rest in peace), but thankfully he was interviewed by one of Stephen Ambrose's staff for his book on D-Day back in the early '90s.

T.

**BoldHighlander** · 23rd March 08, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I had a good friend who dropped in with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regt., 82nd AB Division that day. He passed away in 1998 (may he rest in peace), but thankfully he was interviewed by one of Stephen Ambrose's staff for his book on D-Day back in the early '90s.

T.

In junior high my buddies father was one of the very few Pathfinders for the 82nd to survive that first night.
Don't recall his name however, but he was one hard/tough looking bugger....

I hadn't read it but was going to suggest Ambrose's book entitled Pegasus Bridge (1985 -Simon and Schuster, NY. ISBN 9780671523749) as possibly supplying an answer of some sort.

**BoldHighlander** · 23rd March 08, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by BoldHighlander

I hadn't read it but was going to suggest Ambrose's book entitled Pegasus Bridge (1985 -Simon and Schuster, NY. ISBN 9780671523749) as possibly supplying an answer of some sort.

Here's a link to Ambrose's book on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Pegasus-Bridge...6320097&sr=1-1

It's been a very long time since I read "The Longest Day" (1956) by Cornelius Ryan. I know he went to great lengths in interviewing participants from all sides, but I can't recall what he wrote about Millin.
http://www.amazon.com/Longest-Day-Cl.../dp/0671890913

**ccga3359** · 23rd March 08, 10:56 AM

IMDB lists Pipe Major Leslie de Laspee in an uncredited role of Bill Millin. It also credits Bill Millin as himself (voice) in "The American Experience"
D-Day Remembered (1994).

**The Ulsterman** · 23rd March 08, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

IMDB lists Pipe Major Leslie de Laspee in an uncredited role of Bill Millin. It also credits Bill Millin as himself (voice) in "The American Experience"
D-Day Remembered (1994).

From this account,.............. In an interview during the making of the film, Lord Lovat claimed that this was because "my old piper works in a bar in Glasgow now, I believe, and is too fat to play the part."
There is a lot of controversy surrounding Mr Millin.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 24th March 08, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

From Wiki:

Looking closely at this photo I don't see the suggestion of the kilt strap mentioned elsewhere. What I do see are some pipe drones-- and this raises the possibility that the main figure in the shot is actually blocking Millin, who may be (kilted or not) in front of him. A troll through IWM photo archives may be called for to see what other photos exist in this series of shots.