A story of D-Day

On this day in 1995, the last clan chief in history known to have led his men into battle died at the age of 83.

Simon Fraser, the 15th Lord Lovat, was the Chief of Clan Fraser.

He was described by Winston Churchill, quoting a phrase from an earlier century, as “the mildest-mannered man that ever scuttled ship or cut a throat.”

The Scottish Commando chief whom Hitler placed a 100,000 Reichsmark bounty on, dead or alive.

He was a well respected man who already had a serious war record before D-Day. 

The night before D-Day, Lovat addressed his men. He closed with this: “A hundred years from now, your children’s children will say - they must have been giants in those days.”

Then came June 6th, 1944. Sword Beach, Normandy.

As Brigadier of the 1st Special Service Brigade, Lord Lovat waded ashore leading 3,000 commandos into hell. And behind him came the sound that made the whole scene unforgettable.

The War Office had strictly banned bagpipes in battle. They said it was too conspicuous. Too dangerous.

Lovat brought his personal piper, Bill Millin, and gave the order: “Play us ashore.”

When Millin hesitated, citing the regulations, Lovat smiled and replied:

“Ah, but that’s the English War Office. You and I are both Scottish, and that doesn’t apply.”

So Millin played Highland Laddie, The Road to the Isles, and All The Blue Bonnets Are Over the Border. 

Men fell around them. Bullets tore through the surf. The noise of artillery was deafening. And through it all, the unmistakable scream of the bagpipes.

Captured German snipers later admitted they had Millin in their sights, but didn’t shoot him because they assumed he had gone completely mad.

Lovat’s mission was to reach Pegasus Bridge, where British glider troops were desperately holding on.

The schedule said 1pm. Lovat and his men fought their way off the beach and arrived at exactly 1:02 PM. He calmly walked up to the commanding officer under enemy fire and apologised for being two and a half minutes late.

His commandos then marched across the bridge in the open. Lovat had ordered his men to wear their green berets instead of steel helmets, so the Germans would know exactly who was coming for them.

Twelve men were shot through their berets that day. After that, they finally put their helmets on. But they held the bridge.

For Clan Fraser, there was something almost mythic about it. Their ancestors had come from Normandy centuries earlier. Now their chief had led Highland soldiers back onto those same shores in one of the most decisive battles in modern history.  

Six days later, Lovat was given his last rites after being hit by friendly fire from a stray artillery shell. Against all odds, he survived. He returned home a hero.

He went on to serve in Parliament, judge cattle internationally, and manage his massive 250,000-acre Highland estate.

But his final years were marked by grief. Two of his sons died within weeks of each other in 1994. Beaufort Castle, his ancestral home, had to be sold that same year.

When Lord Lovat died on 16 March 1995, an era died with him. Bill Millin later played at his funeral, bringing the story full circle.  

The last clan chief who went to war.

The brigadier who brought bagpipes onto D-Day.

The Highlander with a price on his head.