Daniel Laidlaw

Daniel Logan Laidlaw
Nickname	The Piper of Loos
Born	26 July 1875 Swinton, Scottish Borders
Died	2 June 1950 (aged 76) Norham, Northumberland
Buried at	St Cuthbert's Churchyard, Norham
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Sergeant-Piper
Unit	The King's Own Scottish Borderers
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross

Daniel Logan Laidlaw VC (26 July 1875 - 2 June 1950) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Laidlaw was 40 years old, and a Piper in the 7th Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 25 September 1915 during the Battle of Loos at Hill 70, prior to an assault on enemy trenches and during the worst of the bombardment, Piper Laidlaw, seeing that his company was shaken with the effects of gas, with complete disregard for danger, mounted the parapet and, marching up and down, played his company out of the trench. The effect of his splendid example was immediate and the company dashed to the assault. Piper Laidlaw continued playing his pipes even after he was wounded and until the position was won.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of sergeant-piper.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
• VCs of the First World War - The Western Front 1915 (Peter F. Batchelor & Christopher Matson, 1999)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Northumberland)
• Piper Laidlaw VC (military figurine)
• [1] "95th Anniversary, Loos"

Persondata
Name	Laidlaw, Daniel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	26 July 1875
Place of birth	Swinton, Scottish Borders
Date of death	2 June 1950
Place of death	Norham, Northumberland