Does Your Scottish History Contain a Hero?

Scottish Family History
Does your Scottish ancestry contain a war hero? Do you have hidden amongst your Scottish family history a man who fought and received medals for fighting for his country? Has someone in your Scottish family tree received campaign medals or, possibly, a higher honour? Discover Your Past can help you find the answer.

George Frederick Findlater (1872-1942)
George Findlater was such a man.  George Frederick Findlater was born on the 16th February 1872 at Mill of Turriff, Aberdeenshire. He was the son, grandson and gt grandson of millers and crofters from Banffshire and Aberdeenshire.
In 1888, at the age of 16, George joined the Gordon Highlanders. Serving, firstly, with the 2nd Battalion (where he served time in Belfast and Ceylon), before being transferred to the 1st Battalion (where he was promoted to the rank of piper).
The 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders formed part of the Tirah Expeditionary Force during the Tirah Campaign in the North-west Province of British India.
On the 20th October 1897 during the attack on the Dargai Heights, Piper Findlater was shot at and wounded, but continued to play his bagpipes, under heavy fire, to encourage the advance.
For this act of bravery Piper George Findlater was awarded the Victoria Cross, which is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be presented to a member of the British or Commonwealth Forces.
Piper Findlater was presented with the Victoria Cross by Her Majesty, Queen Victoria on the 16th May 1898 whilst recovering from his injuries.

Interview with the Hero of Dargai
Piper Findlater was interviewed shortly after returning to Britain and was quoted as saying:
“I got about half across when I was struck on the left foot, but as the bullet only grazed my toes, that did not matter. Then a stray shot broke my chanter (it did not stop my playing) because the break did not make it impossible to play. I had not gone much further when a third bullet went through my right ankle. I could not stand. My leg went under me, and as a result my pipes slid off my shoulder. But I managed to keep on playing to cheer on the other fellows. I got my back against a stone and that helped me wonderfully.”
George was invalided out of the army because of the injuries he received that day.

Civilian Life
After a few years of playing recitals to huge audiences all over Scotland, George married and settled down to his life in Banffshire. In the census of 1901, George (occupation: crofter), can be found with his wife, Helen (known as Nellie, and also, George’s cousin), two of his cousins (also, Helen’s sisters), as well as, John, the first of his five children, at Bridgend, Forglen, Banffshire.
So was that the end of Piper Findlater’s army career?
Not a bit of it.

World War 1
When World War 1 broke out, George (at the age of 42), rejoined the Gordon Highlanders. This time with the 9th Battalion, rising to the rank of Sgt Piper.
George was injured, again, this time at Loos, France. He was invalided out, for good, this time and was officially discharged from the army in 1919.
George returned to Cairnhill (the family’s 30 acre farm) in Forglen, Banffshire, where he was to spend the rest of his life. He died on the 4th March 1942 of a heart attack.

Medals
George Findlater’s medal tally was impressive and was comprised of the following:
Indian Medal 1895 and clasp “Relief of Chitral”
Victoria Cross
1914-1915 Star
British Medal
Victory Medal