St Andrews Pipe Band’s Journey to the Somme Commemorating 110 Years

This year marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, one of the most significant and devastating battles of the First World War.

Before setting off, we spent weeks and months learning new tunes chosen specially for the occasion and for our time playing alongside the Somme Battlefield Pipe Band. The build‑up was full of planning, organising, and a lot of of excited chatter. By the time we packed our bags, we were buzzing to finally go the places and memorial sites we had been talking about for months.

Now that we are home, it is hard to put into words just how meaningful the trip truly was.

So many special moments, wonderful people we met, and places we had the privilege to visit and share our music as a Band. With a six‑page itinerary, we were very busy during our week in the Somme region and every day brought something unforgettable.

One of the most powerful moments came at Lochnagar Crater, created at 7:28 a.m. on 1 July 1916. We stood there at exactly the same time, two minutes before the British offensive began, playing alongside the Somme Battlefield Pipe Band.

Amiens Cathedral

We were honoured to play at other several significant sites accross the Somme: at The Pipers' Memorial at Longueval, in front of the Basilica in Albert and inside the magnificent Amiens Cathedral. These were truly unforgettable.

We visited several smaller British cemeteries, including Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, where we paid tribute to relatives of Band members. These quieter moments were some of the most personal and heartfelt of the trip.

We also honoured the sacrifices of the Allied forces at:Villers‑Bretonneux Australian National Memorial, Beaumont‑Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, Thiepval Memorial and Vimy Ridge.

Vimy Ridge

Thiepval

Beyond the formal commemorations, the trip was full of laughter and fun too.

We returned home tired, proud, and deeply moved by what we experienced.

Oh, and a nice selection of badges.