MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums Of Iowa
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Willie Ross
A distinguished and world-famous military piper who initially fought in the
Boer War, (Second War of Liberation) on the Eastern Cape Frontier of
Southern Africa.
Remarkably, Pipe Major Ross was undoubtedly one of the greatest pipers
that Scotland has ever produced.
Born in 1878 in Glenstrathfarrar in the Scottish
Highlands to Alick Ross and Mary Collie, Willie
was one of a family of three sons and three
daughters.
William (right) enlisted in the Scots Guards in
1896 and
saw service in both the Boer War (1899-1902),
and the Great War (1914-1918).
He was promoted to Pipe Major of the 2nd
Battalion in 1905. (As a unique historical note:
his brother, Alick,was to become Pipe Major of
the 1st Battalion.)
William was invalided out of the army in 1919,
suffering from an acute rheumatic disorder following a hard life in the
trenches.
In 1920 he became Director of the Army School of Bagpipe Music and took
his office and residence in Edinburgh Castle.
His record in competitive piping was unique: Gold Medal in Inverness 1904;
Gold Medal in Oban 1907; Open Piobaireachd winner in 1907,
1912, and 1928. Winner of the Clasp in 1905, 1906, 1907, 1910,1912, 1928
and 1931. As the former winner of the March, Strathspey and Reel at Oban
and Inverness, he was champion 11 times.
Many regarded Willie Ross as the world's greatest piper; a brilliant player,
teacher and composer. He published 5 books of pipe music, which are used
all over the world.
As the Director of the Army School of Bagpipe Music, Pipe Major Ross
personally tutored many piping students at Edinburgh Castle, including:
Thomas Sgian Coulson
A piper with the Essex Scottish 4th Brigade in 1942.
Tom Coulson, went on to become a WWII Canadian
Combat Piper and Pipe Major with the 2nd Battalion
, Essex Scottish.
Prior to the Second World War, Pipe Major Coulson
had initally studied the bagpipes under the tutelage
of Norman Fraser, a Canadian Army Veteran who
served in WWI.
After joining the Canadian Army, Tom (right)
studied under Pipe Major Bobby Stoker,
a Gold Medalist and Army piper from Calgary,
Alberta, Tom's place of birth.
Tom was later selected to attend the Army School
of Bagpipe Music in Edinburgh, Scotland, where
he then studied under the legendary Pipe Major
Willie Ross.
In 1953, Pipe Major Coulson was selected to represent his Regiment the 2nd
Battalion, Essex Scottish, at the coronation of
Queen Elizabeth II. (One member of every Regiment in the British
Commonwealth was chosen to form a "Regiment of Honor.")
Following his retirement from the Canadian Army as a Warrant Officer and
Pipe Major, Tom Coulson with the help and encouragement of pipers Dick
Beverage and Duke Snyder became the founding Pipe Major of the
MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums of Des Moines, Iowa.
Tom Coulson personally trained Pipe Major Jim Jorgenson, Pipe Sergeant
Ron Husted and Pipe Corporal Steve Moeckly to play the bagpipes,
including extensive training in British military drill.
Ron, Jim & Steve are the original members of the MacKenzie Highlanders.
Ron Husted personally trained Pipe Major Norwood (Woody) BayBridge FSA
Scot who became the founding Pipe Major of the Aberdeen, Fire Rescue
Pipes and Drums in Aberdeen S.D., the El Riad Shrine Highlanders and the
South Dakota Highlanders Pipes and Drums of Sioux Falls.
A distinguished and world-famous military piper who initially fought in the
Boer War, (Second War of Liberation) on the Eastern Cape Frontier of
Southern Africa.
Remarkably, Pipe Major Ross was undoubtedly one of the greatest pipers
that Scotland has ever produced.
Born in 1878 in Glenstrathfarrar in the Scottish
Highlands to Alick Ross and Mary Collie, Willie
was one of a family of three sons and three
daughters.
William (right) enlisted in the Scots Guards in
1896 and
saw service in both the Boer War (1899-1902),
and the Great War (1914-1918).
He was promoted to Pipe Major of the 2nd
Battalion in 1905. (As a unique historical note:
his brother, Alick,was to become Pipe Major of
the 1st Battalion.)
William was invalided out of the army in 1919,
suffering from an acute rheumatic disorder following a hard life in the
trenches.
In 1920 he became Director of the Army School of Bagpipe Music and took
his office and residence in Edinburgh Castle.
His record in competitive piping was unique: Gold Medal in Inverness 1904;
Gold Medal in Oban 1907; Open Piobaireachd winner in 1907,
1912, and 1928. Winner of the Clasp in 1905, 1906, 1907, 1910,1912, 1928
and 1931. As the former winner of the March, Strathspey and Reel at Oban
and Inverness, he was champion 11 times.
Many regarded Willie Ross as the world's greatest piper; a brilliant player,
teacher and composer. He published 5 books of pipe music, which are used
all over the world.
As the Director of the Army School of Bagpipe Music, Pipe Major Ross
personally tutored many piping students at Edinburgh Castle, including:
Thomas Sgian Coulson
A piper with the Essex Scottish 4th Brigade in 1942.
Tom Coulson, went on to become a WWII Canadian
Combat Piper and Pipe Major with the 2nd Battalion
, Essex Scottish.
Prior to the Second World War, Pipe Major Coulson
had initally studied the bagpipes under the tutelage
of Norman Fraser, a Canadian Army Veteran who
served in WWI.
After joining the Canadian Army, Tom (right)
studied under Pipe Major Bobby Stoker,
a Gold Medalist and Army piper from Calgary,
Alberta, Tom's place of birth.
Tom was later selected to attend the Army School
of Bagpipe Music in Edinburgh, Scotland, where
he then studied under the legendary Pipe Major
Willie Ross.
In 1953, Pipe Major Coulson was selected to represent his Regiment the 2nd
Battalion, Essex Scottish, at the coronation of
Queen Elizabeth II. (One member of every Regiment in the British
Commonwealth was chosen to form a "Regiment of Honor.")
Following his retirement from the Canadian Army as a Warrant Officer and
Pipe Major, Tom Coulson with the help and encouragement of pipers Dick
Beverage and Duke Snyder became the founding Pipe Major of the
MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums of Des Moines, Iowa.
Tom Coulson personally trained Pipe Major Jim Jorgenson, Pipe Sergeant
Ron Husted and Pipe Corporal Steve Moeckly to play the bagpipes,
including extensive training in British military drill.
Ron, Jim & Steve are the original members of the MacKenzie Highlanders.
Ron Husted personally trained Pipe Major Norwood (Woody) BayBridge FSA
Scot who became the founding Pipe Major of the Aberdeen, Fire Rescue
Pipes and Drums in Aberdeen S.D., the El Riad Shrine Highlanders and the
South Dakota Highlanders Pipes and Drums of Sioux Falls.
Military Piping Heritage
The Essex Scottish Pipe Band parades over the canal bridge
captured by the unit during the fighting in Groningin, Holland,
on April 15th 1945, the day following the action.
captured by the unit during the fighting in Groningin, Holland,
on April 15th 1945, the day following the action.
Tom after the war, taken at
the armories in Windsor
the armories in Windsor
Photo of Tom taken during the
early 1980so
early 1980so
