Pipe-Major 1912

The pipe major is from cigarette card of 1912 and is entitled Gordon Highlanders Pipe Major 1st Battalion. The pipe banner is the regimental banner which it is the pipe-major's privilege to carry. The battle honours are sewn on both sides. The other pipers carry company banners donated by officers of the regiment. These have the battalion badge only on one side and the crest of the donor on the other. For a pipe-major to qualify for the position he must be able to compose music as well as play marches, strathspeys and pibochs.
The piper regulated the soldier's day, rousing him in the morning with one tune and calling him to lunch or dinner with another. The duty piper warned the officers of the time to dress for mess and provided music for dinner. And on guest nights the pipe-major and several other pipers were present and audible. The Gordons regimental march was Highland Laddie until 1932 and Cock o' the North after that.

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