gun fire and artillery bursts, richardson rose from the meagre protection of a shell hole and began to play his pipes. He strode up and down the wire playing with the “greatest coolness.” By all rights he should have been killed. Watching the site of their seemingly immune piper defying all odds, the inspired 16th men rose to their feet and charged the german wire and were soon through to the enemy trenches. richardson was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his selfless act of valour. Miraculously he survived the battle and was detailed to take back a wounded comrade and some prisoners. after proceeding some distance, richardson realized that he left his pipes behind and turned back towards the front line to retrieve them. The piper who had survived a hailstorm of fire that morning was never seen alive again. His body was not found until 1920. richardson was one of the almost 8000 Canadians killed on the Somme in the late summer and fall of 1916. Curiously, his pipes were found by British army chaplain, Major edward Yeld Bate in 1917. He pulled the pipes out of the mud and took them back to the school in Scotland where he taught after the war. richardson’s remained in Scotland until 2006, when the Canadian Club of Vancouver purchased this incredible artifact. You can now see richardson’s pipes on display in the rotunda of British Columbia’s Legislature in Victoria. as the last notes of the lone piper’s lament faded into the winds blowing through lonely adanaC that day, I was glad that I was not alone. rICHardSon’S VC CITaTIon For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, prior to attack, he obtained permission from his Commanding officer to play his company “over the top”. as the Company approached the objective, it was held up by very strong wire and came under intense fire, which caused heavy casualties and demoralised the formation for the moment. realising the situation, piper richardson strode up and down outside the wire, playing his pipes with the greatest coolness. The effect was instantaneous. Inspired by his splendid example, the company rushed the wire with such fury and determination that the obstacle was overcome and the position captured. Later, after participating in bombing operations, he was detailed to take back a wounded comrade and prisoners. after proceeding about 200 yards, piper richardson remembered that he had left his pipes behind. although strongly urged not to do so, he insisted on returning to recover his pipes. He has never been seen since, and death has been presumed accordingly owing to lapse of time.
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