Bill Millin

William Millin (14th July 1922 - 17th August 2010)

I was saddened to hear of the death of William 'Bill' Millin today. Known as Piper Bill, he was the personal piper to Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, commander of 1 Special Service Brigade on D-Day. Millin is remembered as one of the few pipers to play during a World War II battle.

Use of the bagpipes was restricted to rear areas by the time of the Second World War, but Lovat ignored these orders and Millin, then aged 21, played 'Hielan' Laddie' and 'The Road to the Isles' in the midst of his comrades on Sword Beach on the 6th June 1944.

He died aged 88 in Devon, Cornwall.