Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 8023 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 210

x The Historically Important Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal to Pipe-Major E. Henderson, Scots Fusilier Guards, Who Appears to be The First Officially Appointed Pipe-Major in the British Army Army Long Service, V.R. (4425 Pipe-Major E. Henderson 1st Bn. Sco. Fus. Guards), impressed, very fine, with ornate silver foliate top riband bar, with several photographic images of recipient in uniform and a quantity of copied research Estimate £ 300-350 4425 Piper-Major Ewen Henderson, born Fort William, Scotland; joined 1st Battalion Scots Fusiliers Guards, 1853, ´´Ewen Henderson, the Pipe-Major of the 1st Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards, who is at once a good piper and a genuine Highlander. He is a son of Angus Henderson of Annat, who joined the 92nd when first raised, served with it till the battle of Waterloo, rose to the rank of Colour-Sergeant, and lived till a few years ago to enjoy his well-earned pension. Ewen is a worthy son of a worthy sire: a living representative of what the pipers once were; a favourable specimen of the Celtic race. He feels the dignity of his position as Pipe-Major of a gallant regiment, and the sound of his war-pipe has been heard at Alma and Inkerman. It has also sounded in more peaceful scenes. He had the honour of performing before the Princess of Wales at Buckingham Palace a few weeks after her arrival, and was rewarded with some kind words and a golden Napoleon, which he wears at his watch chain and will not part with till his dying hour. "Will you take five pounds for it, Henderson?" said an officer to whom he showed it. "No, sir, not five hundred!" said Ewen, with the chivalrous feeling of an old paladin. The intrinsic value of the coin was less than a pound, but who shall estimate its value in Ewen´´s eyes? Long may he be spared to wear it.´´ The Regimental History offers more incite into Henderson´´s service, ´´In 1853 the 1st Battalion of the Regiment appointed one of their Sergeants, Ewan [sic] Henderson, aged 22, and a son of a Sergeant of the 92nd, to be their Pipe-Major. This purely private enterprise, which received no official support at the time, was thus the start of the modern line of Scots Guards Pipers. Ewan Henderson played his Pipes throughout the Crimean War, at the Crossing of the Alma and at the Battle of Inkermann (the banner carried on Ewan Henderson´´s pipes during the Crimea is now preserved in the Scottish United Services Museum in Edinburgh Castle), but when the Battalion returned home they found that his position as Piper-Major was unauthorised and that he must revert to his former position of a duty Sergeant. They were not long, however, in putting matters right and on 5th January, 1856, the Colonel of the Regiment, H.R.H. The Duke of Cambridge, wrote to the War Office as follows: "It having been represented to me by the Officer Commanding the Scots Fusilier Guards (of which I have the honour to be Colonel), that the Regiment being a Scotch one, the recruiting of the Regiment would be much facilitated were a Pipe-Major and a limited number of Pipers be allowed to each Battalion..." Prior to Henderson´´s appointment being recognised as official, Pipers had been attached to the Regiments at the personal expense of the Officers. In 1856, a Piper-Major and five Pipers were officially allowed for each battalion, ´´with pay of one and twopence a day and one penny a day ´´beer money´´, no doubt to enable them ´´to gie a guid blaw.´´ (Regimental History refers). As a consequence of this Henderson´´s service in the Crimea had been in an honorary capacity, and he is not entitled to a Crimea Medal despite having served during that conflict. The Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal is his sole entitlement for a very long and distinguished career. He was discharged in 1874, after 21 years and 16 days service with the Colours.

Sold for
£850