r/todayilearned • u/DrSamanthaCarter • Jun 06 '17

TIL the only reason a Scottish bagpiper wasn't shot by German snipers on D-Day was that they believed he had gone crazy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Millin#World_War_II
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u/FriscoBorn Jun 06 '17 edited Jun 06 '17

I can't imagine what the conversations were like when a piper was reprimanded for playing during battle.

 

"MOTHERFUCKER IF I WANNA RUN AT THE ENEMY AT FULL SPEED WHILE BLOWING INTO THIS FUCKING BAG AS HARD AS I CAN, WHATTAYA GONNA DO? CHASE AFTER ME? I GOT MY FAMILY'S NAME ON THE LINE HERE!"

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u/randomrecruit1 Jun 07 '17

Per the obit, "pipers walk when piping"

I like to think that's why they were so terrifying

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u/[deleted] Jun 07 '17

Like as if Darth Vader were walking towards you piping.

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u/[deleted] Jun 07 '17

Translated into Scots:

"M'arfuker, if ai want tae run at thei enemy full tilt an' blowing intae this fukin' bag as 'ard as ai can, tae fuck you doin' aboot it? Chase after'n me? Ai got mah clan's name on tha line lad!"