Piper Laidlaw, VC – Poem by Thomas Grey, 1915

Thomas Grey was born in Shoreswood, near Berwick in 1863. He worked for North Eastern Railways as a train driver for many years. In his 40s he was forced to find other work due to ill health. In 1918 he started working for the Post Office, but left that job, too, because of illness.

Thomas seems to have written poetry all of his adult life. In 1906 he published a book of poems called Musings on the Footplate (the footplate is part of a steam engine that the driver stands on while driving the train.) It was the only book that he published during his lifetime, but the Berwick Advertiser regularly published his poems in the newspaper.

During the First World War Thomas was too old to fight, but three of his sons served in the armed forces. He often wrote about events during the war. After the war, he was part of the committee that put up the war memorial in Tweedmouth.

More about his life and poetry can be found by following the link below.

Daniel Laidlaw served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers Regiment (KOSB) during the First World War. Although he was born in Scotland (Little Swinton), Daniel’s home was in Doddington, Northumberland.

Music was very important to the British Army. Bugles were often used to signal instructions to soldiers on the battlefield and regimental bands provided rhythms for marching, to raise morale and to help build a feeling of regimental pride.

Daniel Laidlaw played the bagpipes for the KOSB. He won the Victoria Cross, the British Army’s highest medal for bravery, for playing the bagpipes during the Battle of Loos. This poem is Thomas Grey’s celebration of that event.

The Battle of Loos (northern France) started on 25 September 1915. The British Army used poisoned gas for the first time during the Battle. It had been used by the Germans at the Battle of Ypres in April 1915. When the British released the gas at Loos, lots of it blew back into the British trenches, causing confusion. Daniel Laidlaw’s playing inspired the troops and encouraged them to leave the trenches and start their attack on the Germans.

Blue Bonnets Over the Border, the song played by Daniel Laidlaw, is a traditional Scottish marching song with lyrics by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). The Standard on the Braes of Mar’, is another traditional Scottish song. It was said to be used to gather clans together.