On his retirement from the military John would remain in Germany and take civilian employment with the Construction Engineering Department at Canadian Forces Base Baden Söllingen. In 1980 he and his wife Geraldine moved to Melesse, France and he was deeply involved with the War Graves Commission. In the mid 1980's however he would return to Germany and resumed civilian employment with the Engineers in Baden until the Base closed in 1993 was transferred to CFB Lahr Engineers Department until Lahr closed in 1994. At this time having served the military and later as a civil servant for a combined public service of over 50 years John would retire from the work force. Since his arrival in Germany in 1971 he and his pipes were a familiar sight at Vimy Ridge, Beaumont-Hamel and memorial sites all over Europe. As a member of the Royal Canadian Legion we were very fortunate that he volunteered and became the official piper or the Royal Canadian Legion, Zone Europe and accompanied us on many ceremonial events.
John "The Piper"
John was every inch a piper in the Scottish pipe playing tradition he was extremely talented and when he plaid the pipes you listened even if you were not a great fan of the pipes. He was without a doubt in a class of his own and would captivate an audience emotionally with his playing that was quite unbelievable. With his playing he would cause the hair to stand on your body and bring tears to your eyes it was quite remarkable. I remember one day we had done a few ceremonies in Normandy it was getting dusk as we drove through this village where the local people were just finishing a wreath laying ceremony we stopped and also laid a wreath when the local mayor invited us to join them as they would have a barbecue which was in some ones back yard where a canvas tarp was attached to the house. It had been raining on and off all day as John started playing it began to rain. I recall John had a raincoat on and a large crowd had gathered he plaid three tunes ending with amazing grace. It was raining rather hard at this time and it was just about dark his silhouette with the pipes was an assume sight. Not one person left and at the end there was not a dry eye in the place and I guarantee you it wasn't from the rain. The crowd stood in the rain applauding for more John said later I think you people are getting wet! It was only then everyone started scrambling for shelter. I felt a little silly as I wanted to congratulate him on the performance but was unable to speak John just looked at me and said thanks.
John was not overbearing and was always glad to help pipers in a very friendly way. We had just finished a ceremony at Beaumont-Hamel and the Somme Pipes & Drums Band who has been present at this ceremony and Vimy every year forever. We were in the parking lot they of course know John for many years and the Band invited us to their band room for a few refreshments. We got a drink and was sitting at a table in the corner when the band started to play and to be honest it sounded god awful. John said holly shit to us ... wait just a minute I will be back! I thought he was going to say stop, stop and give them some sort of instructions but what he did was he went to each piper and as the continued to play and tuned their pipes! What a tremendous difference that made I could see the pipers all looking at each other and as they said after the performance they had never heard themselves sound so good. They wanted John to move to that area so they would have someone to tune there pipes.
John always spoke highly of his mentors like Pipe Major Archie Cairns, Pipe Major William Sterling, Pipe Major Hugh McPherson to name a few, men who were devoted to their tradition of music even though prior to the late 60's the Defence Department refused to classify bagpipers as musicians. Enough to boil your Scottish blood! There were some 900 full time musicians in the armed forces and only six full time pipers still the Defence Department refused to integrate them with musicians. The Departments lame excuse was that musician should know more about music that bagpipers. Pipers were only required to play one instrument while musicians were required to play three and the "Triangle" counted as one instrument. Did you ever hear "Scotland The Brave" played on a triangle? Amends were finally made in 1968 and pipes were absorbed into the music branch of the Canadian Forces and ranked with musicians in terms of benefits including pay and promotion.
His legacy of course was his music. When people gather to hear him play and you get comments like "WOW, I heard the pipes plaid many times before but never did I hear them plaid like that" you are in a class of your own at the top.
John "The Character"
The only phrase that would describe John's personality would be to say he was "quite the character". The first time I met him it was like I had knew him all my life! In addition to his pipes he also had a great respect for his fellow soldiers and could bicker with the best of them. John actually came to Germany the first time with the famed 27 Brigade in 1951 when the army was stationed in the Hannover area. He would returned permanently in 1971. During his plus 30 years living and working in Lahr and Baden-Söllingen, the stirring sound of his pipes, his red beard made him the most well known and well loved characters in the whole of the Canadian Military Community.
Honours Appointments & Decorations
Civilian Awards
After an 8-month battle with liver and lung cancer John died at home surrounded by his wife of 26 years Geraldine and his two sons Robert Bruce (25) and Andy (19). All through the last month of his life he showed exceptional physical and moral courage. The many friends he made through his military career supported him and his family through regular visits, phone calls, e-mails and cards.
A Memorial Service was held lead by his long time buddy from the Black Watch Ian Clark. His friends from the Royal Canadian Legion was there to pay their last respects as well as many German friends he made during the years he spent in Germany. John's youngest son Andy who followed in his fathers footsteps in the Scottish pipe-playing tradition by request from his father played the "Lament for Mary MacLeod". John has no known grave since by request his ashes were scattered in Scotland by his good friend Ian Clark.
"We Will Remember Him"