A GALLANT PIPER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 January 1927, Page 11

A GALLANT PIPER

JIMMY GROOTE, D.CM.

STORIES OF CANADIAN SCOTTISH

C\ OLONEL CYRUS PECK, V.C., is contributing stirring: reminiscences oL the battlefield, where he was commanding officer of the Canadian Scottish. The first of the series, appearing: in the Christchurch Press, deals with the pipers who piped the regiment injo action on the Western _ tront, under the direction of Pipe-Major “Jimmy Groote, M.M.. and bar. • 4 1 don’t know much of Jimmy’s life outside of the war years,” says the colonel, who is now a Conservative member in the British Columbia Parliament. He came from the viciiuty o John o’ Groats, but I don’t know whether he was a' descendant of that celebrity. He was a sturdily-built, medium-sized man of a dark, Celtic * tvpe. His countenance was calm, stoical, and impenetrable, but strong and determined. His expression had little animation, unless he was aroused, when his eyes would snap fire in an unpleasant manner. He had the carriage and hearing of a piper, with the downward glance at the chanter peculiar to that type of musician. ‘‘Under ‘Jimmy’s’ leadership, the band of the regiment became an all-important element of our lives in the field, and attained a wonderful record There were 10 decorations m the band- one V.C. and D.C.M., M.M., and bar. and eight Military Medals. No decoration was ever recommended unless a piper had played his company over the top at least twice. We had always more volunteers than we. needed. and we took only single men.” Colonel Peek, who is a very forceful speaker in Parliament and a very popular man, especially with the younger members of the community on the Pacific coast, says that the action of taking pipers, as such, into action, led to a good deal of criticism at first. It was said that, however much they were welcome m the wars of the past, they were out of place in uiocUern warfare, as the pipes could not be heard above the din of such shelling as was experienced in the Great. War. But they were heard for all that, and proved a great inspiration to. the fighting troops. He records that there was a very keen emulation among his pipers to go into action, and a bearing worthy of a Highland regiment. i “Strong men like rough contests,” 'Colonel Peek continues. “And ‘Jimmy’ made the band the pride of the regiment in the great

and trying moments of the war. His solemn, steady devotion and capacity for command supplied the initiative and example necessary to carry it forward and maintain its consistent superiority over all obstacles and dangers. ‘Jimmy’ never sent a man where he wouldn’tgo himself. In all the actions in which the pipers played us over, ‘Jimmy’ was one of them. “I recall one big engagement when I had two pipers by me as we went into action. ‘Jimmy’ was one of them. I said to the other piper, ‘Play the Cock o’ the North.’ He was a Cameron, and for some reason the Camerons don’t like that tune. Some of them won’t play it even now. The piper demurred, butrJimmy’ brought him up, shouting to him, ‘Play it, mon, dinna be a fool!’ And I got my tune. ” Colonel Peek touches lightly, in reminiscent' vein, on incidents surrounding the terrible experiences of the Canadian Scottish at Hill 70 and Arras, always paying tribute to the pipemajor and his pipers. “We were waiting for the zero hour,” he says, recalling one of these dramatic occurrences. “Hell was popping around us. Heavies and mediums and tears and gas, in a terrible atmosphere. The order came. I took a last glance down the line. There was a resolute crispness and resignation withal in the voices of the men as they passed Tt down the front. Death order for many, maybe. Magnificent fellows. I turned and looked at ‘Jimmy.’ But nothing daunted ‘Jimmy.’ His countenance wore its usual hard, stolid look. He stepped off blithely, playing ‘Nut Brown Maiden’ as if he were on a ceremonial parade in a prairie town. “Jimmy” was wounded twice. Describing the second occasion, the commanding officer says—“lt was in the middle of the assault, fn a night attack. He was severely wounded and had to be carried out. Stretcher-bearers were scarce, and we were utilising German prisoners to give us a hand back with our wounded. Two of them were carrying ‘Jimmy,’ and a third made as if to take his pipes—a beautiful silver-mounted set, the gift of the officer. I’ll never forget how ‘Jimmy’ seized them with his unwounded hand. He had a hard time with his ‘Blighty,’ and the war was long over before he was about again.