Song Explanation: Duncan McIntyre

So, as a first blog for the band I figured I'd write about something I know. And since I wrote the lyrics to this song, and did the research it makes sense to write about it.

I first heard about this story on National Geographic channel and decided it would make for a good song.

Ducan McIntyre was born into a family of pipers, his father and brother had played in the Glasgow police band and Duncan himself had played in the city transport band.

As the lyrics read, Duncan McIntyre joined the army in WWII in June 1942 and got stationed in northern Africa. To actually get there they had to sail all the way around the southern tip of Africa because the Mediterranaen was deemed too dangerous. After 2 months of sailing they arrived. Duncan got assigned with the 51st Highland Division which was lead by Major-General Douglas Wimberley.

On the 30th of August 1942 the Axis' Africa Corps made an assault on Alam el Halfa, which is a mountainridge just south of El Alamein. This assault failed though and the Axis dug in waiting for an Allied counterattack. This counterattack started 2 months later. The 22nd of October.   


To achieve the maximum amount of surprise the Allied infantery was ordered to dig slit trenches and lie in them until nightfall. When it finally went dark the men were allowed to stand up again and enjoy a hot meal, brought in by trucks that had stealthily arrived during the day. They got themselves a drink, refilled their ammunitions and went on. 

The Axis had dug in well though, and placed minefields over the past months which the Allied infantery had to tread through. Most of the mines were designed to knock out tanks and wouldn't explode under human weight. There were some anti-personnel scattered around the minefield though, so they had to tread carefully. 

The plan was to send in the infantery, who would knock down gun posts, with the sappers following them to clear two corridors of mines and allow the armor through. 

Preceding the infantery's advance the Allies released the largest artillery barrage of the entire war. 750 cannons shot their opening salvo at precisely the same moment. It sounded and felt like an earthquake, shaking the ground. It caused the entire battlefield to be covered in smoke.
The 51st advanced in a line, 5 metres apart to make them harder to hit by enemy gunfire. 

Because of the smoke the men were seperated and this could make them feel vulnerable. To counter this Wimberly sent them off saying "Scotland for ever and second to none", and attached a kilted piper to each company whose sounds pierced through the gunfire and boost their morale. 

Duncan was one of these. 

Duncan was assigned to the Black Watch, a regiment that had been around since the Jacobite rebellion to "watch" the Highlands, "black" because of their dark green tartans.

As the Black Watch approached one of the gun posts a merciless barrage hit Ducan. Despite being injured, he kept playing, after the second shot he got knocked down. Astonishingly he got back up and kept playing. After the third hit Duncan carried on playing and broke into the regimental march: "Higland Laddie". This increased the morale and the Black Watch pushed on. The gun post was taken but the pipes had stopped.

The following morning, when the smoke cleared, Duncan was found dead on the ground. With his cold fingers on his chanter and his pipes under his arm. He was only 28 years old.

I found this to be such a great story of courage and perseverance that Duncan McIntyre deserved his own song to be remembered by.

- Maarten  

P.S. Michael mentioned I should add the lyrics, so here you go!

Summer of 1942
Young men are getting shipped of to fight

                                                                      Back in 1942

The sixth month of the year

Father McIntyre said goodbye

To his son out on the pier

Duncan he got shipped away

To a far and foreign land

Bravely he got on the boat

With his chanter in his hand

And we'll sing ooh

Ooh ooh, We will remember you

For everything you went through

We'll sing ooh

Ooh ooh, Duncan McIntyre

This one's for you

When he arrived he joined the 51st 

To lead the 5th Black Watch

Win the battle at El Alamein

And celebrate with Scotch

They surprised the Axis late at night

The Black Watch was inbound

Duncan's chanters droning through the dark

Axis woken by the sound

[Chorus]

The Italians got up

And found their rifles in the dark

Mortars blasting through their tents

Powder igniting with a spark

Rifles fired as the Trento charged

The Black Watch had their fight

Duncan he got shot three times 

Didn't make it through the night

[Chorus]

The stories that are told 

Remember Duncan as he was

After the first shot he kept playing

Supporting 5th without a pause

The second shot did take his breath

There on that fateful night

Duncan fell onto the ground

But still he was alright

After the third shot Duncan started off

The regimental march

"Highland Laddie" blasting through the pipes

The 5th increased their charge

When the fight was fought and won

Duncan lay dead there on the ground

With his fingers on his chanter

And his pipes under his arm

[Chorus]

I guess I should also add the song itself