Allandale Pipe band was founded in 1933 by Pipe Major Malcolm McLachlan of the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
He wanted to raise the awareness in Allandale of the pipes and also encourage youngsters to learn the pipes and drums. He soon managed to gather a few enthusiasts for the band but there were no instruments, uniforms or money to buy them. He appealed to the villagers for help in raising the money and soon there were many fundraising activities on the go.
Mrs. McLachlan even made toffee apples to sell to the children. A sum of £200 was raised and instruments and uniforms were purchased but they had no meeting place for practice until Mrs. McLachlan allowed them to use her kitchen night after night. The band went from strength to strength and in 1938 returned in triumph from the Cowal Games as world champions after winning the Lord Inverclyde Shield, the Sir Harry Lauder Shield, the Crozier Shield, 72 medals and £10 in cash. When war broke out in 1939, Malcolm McLachlan asked the band to join up, and, in a body, they marched to Bonnybridge and enlisted in the Argylls, except for a few who were under age.
The pipers, as part of the 51st Highland Division, took part in the Battle of El Alamein where they piped the troops into battle. But the triumph was darkened by the death of Malcolm and his brother Ian. Another brother, Kenneth, was severely wounded in the battle. In February 1946, a meeting was held to revive the band as soon as the surviving members were released from the army.
The new president was J. McKenzie Miller, vice-president, Archie McLachlan, treasurer, G. Smith, secretary, Stewart Cunningham.
The committee were messrs. G.Gall, F. McLachlan, Pipe Major J. Smith, MM, and Mrs. M.McLachlan, widow of Malcolm McLachlan. As one of their number said, “We will go all out to win fresh honours for the band until the time comes when once again, as in 1938, we can march in triumph through Allandale, for we all recognise that such a ‘victory march’ would be our best tribute to Pipe Major McLachlan”.
Allandale Pipe band did indeed win many further honours and marched through the village in triumph on many occasions.
There were many other members of the village and the surrounding area who were part of the band in future years. Some I recall were Pipe Major John McConnachie, Hugh Campbell, Malcolm Graham and supporters George Bell and Jimmy McWhinnie. I would like to record other members of the band here, if anyone can add to the names please e.mail me.
Pipe Major John Smith B.E.M., M.M., was a member of the World Championship winning band of 1938 and he was one of the band who joined the Argylls at the start of WW11. He was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery at the Battle of El Alamein. His citation reads “Sgt. Smith, as medical Sgt. gave an outstanding display of courage, calmness and efficiency. In spite of continuous heavy fire and numerous casualties he carried out his work with a complete disregard of danger and a thoroughness and determination which was an inspiration to the men he led.” He was also decorated with the British Empire Medal for his services to piping at a ceremony at Edinburgh Castle on 7th December 1964. He is 2nd from the right in the 1938 photograph. His two brothers, George Smith and Ronald Smith were also members of the pipe band after the war. George Smith is the Pipe Sgt. on the right and Ronald Smith is the piper seventh from the right in both the 1950s photographs. Pipe Major Smith’s son, Roy, joined the band as a young piper just before it broke up. He went on to join other pipe bands including the Fallin Pipe Band, the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Pipe band, the 153 H Regt. RCT Pipe Band. In 1964 he was founder/instructor with the Denny & Dunipace Pipe Band who have just celebrated their 40th Anniversary and he is still involved with them. I am indebted to Jim Bell, Roy Smith, Bobby Tasker & Adam Baxter for information about the pipe band.
