Aveimore's Spud is one of the pipers who are answering the call to remember "the forgotten Dunkirk" on the anniversary of battle of Saint-Valéry-en-Caux and is due to play on Carrbridge's famous Old Pack Horse Bridge
At exactly 10am on Friday, June 12, Spud the Piper will stand in the middle of Carrbridge's Old pack Horse Bridge to mark the 80th anniversary of a battle which is known as the forgotten Dunkirk.
Pipers from all over the world have been signing up to pay tribute to the thousands of Scots who were killed or captured during the battle of Saint-Valéry-en-Caux and they will be playing the haunting pipers' march – Heroes of St Valéry – to mark the occasion.
Spud, who is also known as Callum Fraser and lives in Aviemore, said he was contacted by a local resident whose relative was at the battle and she had asked him if he was interested in taking part.
The 53-year-old said he was looking forward to taking part but added he was not familiar with the tune and would need to learn it in the next few days.
He started piping when he was young and has been a full time piper for the past 21 years. He said: "I play seven nights a week, every week, for about six months a year – but I have not played much since March."
Already more than 200 pipers, from 16 countries across five continents, have already agreed to take part in the event which has been organised by three leading Scottish Armed Forces charities – Poppyscotland, Legion Scotland and Scotland’s Armed Forces Children’s Charity RCET.
One of the most prominent pipers who will be taking part will be Willie Armstrong – one of the founding members of Celtic rock band The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
He said: "I’m delighted to be involved and it’s amazing to see the global piping community come together for such an important commemoration, especially alongside charities that are very close to my heart.
“Heroes of St Valéry is a tune I’ve been playing for decades. It is going to be incredibly moving to play Donald MacLean’s iconic march exactly 80 years on from when he was captured at the Battle of St Valéry. More than 200 pipers have registered to take part in just over a week, and I’m really hopeful that more will sign up in the coming days.”
Lewis-born Pipe Major Donald MacLean enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in 1940 when Nazi Germany invaded France, and he was subsequently attached to the 51st Highland Division.
A week after the mass-evacuations from Dunkirk, the 51st remained on the continent under French command. They put up a fierce final defence against the Nazi onslaught, but, after more than ten days of intense fighting, exhausted and depleted of ammunition, plans for a Dunkirk-style evacuation were put in place.
A combination of poor weather and the proximity of German artillery made escape impossible and the division was forced to surrender on 12th June 1940, following a final battle at St-Valéry-en-Caux, a fishing port west of Dieppe.
Pipe Major MacLean survived a harrowing forced march from France to Poland with little food or shelter and was held as a prisoner of war for the remainder of the war.
He went on to compose Heroes of St Valéry to commemorate those who fought and fell there, including the pipers and drummers who rest in the well cared for military cemetery above the town.
Neil McLennan, University of Aberdeen Director of Leadership Programmes and RCET Director, has been convening the St Valery 80th Commemorations Committee.
He said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response so far. There are pipers signed up from as far afield as Peru and Singapore, with scores more joining up every day. The world record for the largest ever piping ensemble saw 333 participants at an event in Bulgaria in 2012.
“Due to the global pandemic this will be a virtual rather than physical event, but, given the level of interest we have received to date, our hope is that it will be the largest mass playing of the pipes ever.
“The events at St Valéry in 1940 have never received the level of recognition we believe they should, but we hope this year’s commemoration will put that right and ensure the ‘Forgotten 51st’ are forgotten no more. As we can see, people across the world are moved by the story and want to commemorate together.”
To register interest in taking part, and to access the sheet music, pipers are being asked to visit here and for more information on the 51st (Highland) Division at St Valéry please visit here.