A day not to forget and a person to remember, Billy Millin

[moose]

Remembered as the piper of DDday Millins, Lord Lovat's personal piper, was the only piper accompanying the first wave.

[t]he use of bagpipes was restricted to rear areas by the time of the Second World War by the British Army. Lovat, nevertheless, ignored these orders and ordered Millin, then aged 21, to play. When Private Millin demurred, citing the regulations, he recalled later, Lord Lovat replied: "Ah, but that's the English War Office. You and I are both Scottish, and that doesn't apply."

Millin states that he later talked to captured German snipers who claimed they did not shoot at him because they thought he had gone mad.

Millin, [...], was the only man during the landing who wore a kilt – it was the same Cameron tartan kilt his father had worn in Flanders during World War I – and he was armed only with his pipes.

One tough guy. There is a bronze statue of him at Normandy.

Read More

 

[titsonritz]

The Story of Bill Millin, Lord Lovat's Mad Piper of Sword Beach

 

[ilostmypswrd]

My Uncle Doc was with the OSS and had jumped into France 3 months before OP Overload, the ballz on that guy, he had to guide the pathfinders to light the landing zones for the gliders, RIP and a mighty salute to all of those who landed and fought to end the reign of Hitler.

 

[moose]

My daughter and I rewatched The Longest Day last night and we were very disappointed to notice the actor playing Billy Millins was both old, probably 40-ish, and wearing pants. I think the movie should lose at least one of its academy awards.