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TRIBUTE Malcolm MacCrimmon piping at Borreraig in 1959, for the Clan MacLeod Parliament at the MacCrimmon Cairn PIPING TODAY • 38 by Mike Paterson TRIBUTE Rekindling MacCrimmon family connections MALCOLM RODERICK MacCRIMMON (1918-2011) HE bust-up came in the midst of the And, but for the late Malcolm Roderick help me learn that instrument he was playing,” indebtedness, dispossession, turmoil MacCrimmon, 1918-2011, a great-great Malcolm recalled. “He told me he was sorry, Tand dismay that gripped the High- grandson of Donald Ruadh, the North Ameri- he was busy with his work and he couldn’t take lands of Scotland in the late 18th century. can link to the MacCrimmon dynasty could any more pupils. Then he asked me, ‘What’s When Donald Ruadh MacCrimmon parted easily have faded from recollection in the con- your name, son?’ I told him and he said, ‘Well, from his MacLeod patron in 1773, it’s unlikely text of an emerging Canada where there were you can start right now’.” The piper was Don- that he ever expected to see Skye again. He other family achievements to celebrate. ald Maclean from the Isle of Lewis. took ship for the New World, and lost an eye Malcolm MacCrimmon’s father and Gaelic- Once Malcolm took an interest in piping, fighting for British rule in North America. He speaking grandfather both played important his grandmother, Flora MacArthur from settled for a time in Canada, where he refused parts in railroad development in Western Bunessan on the Ross of Mull, a descendant to pass on his piping knowledge to anyone, Canada, work that helped to lay a basis for of MacArthur pipers, gave him every encour- even his own children. It was a rift that would Canadian identity. His grandfather, also agement. “She was always after me once I last more than a century. Malcolm, son of Roderick, played a key role started on the pipes,” he said. “I turned out His older brother, Iain Dubh MacCrim- in surveying and grading of the last and most to be her favourite grandchild because I played mon, had kept the lease at Borreraig, but the daunting section of the Canadian Pacific the pipes.” MacLeod tradition of piping patronage was Railway: through Kicking Horse Pass in the When he was old enough, Malcolm began nearing extinction and the glory days of the precipitous heights of the Rocky Mountains. taking lessons with the Seaforth Highlanders old MacCrimmon piping “school” on Skye The family moved to the community of in Vancouver under John Gillies, a former were fading memories. Even after the High- Luscar, Alberta, where Malcolm’s Ontario- Scots Guards pipe major. He also played with land Society of London repatriated Donald born father, Roderick — grandson of Donald the North Vancouver Pipe Band. Ruadh, his wife and three of their four children Ruadh’s son — established the area’s first dairy In 1932, the family moved again, to a to Scotland in 1790, he never taught, and the farm — then to North Vancouver, British 4,800-acre mixed farm in Alberta that his MacLeod estates were being racked by clear- Columbia. father had been hired to manage. ances, poverty and emigration. It was there, one day in 1927, that Mal- The farm at Scotford, near Fort Saskatch- The son he had left behind in Canada, colm MacCrimmon heard bagpipes for the ewan, was owned by A.R. Mann Investments, Roderick, was swept up in the demanding life first time. a company deeply involved in railroad financ- of a New World pioneer. “I went over and asked the piper if he could ing in Canada. Malcolm played with the PIPING TODAY • 39 TRIBUTE ‘George Poulter had confirmed that the young soldier, who had arrived in England with his regiment in the spring of 1940, was indeed a descendant of Donald Ruadh’ local band, under John Robertson, as well as picking up a strenuous share of the farm work and gathering memories he would cherish throughout his lifetime. “Our people were always associated with horses,” he said, years later, “and my father wanted to go back to the prairies where he was born.” Malcolm’s regular responsibilities included riding the fields and valleys looking for stray cattle and the care of the vast farm’s thousands of pigs, sheep, chick- ens and other poultry. He long recalled that “there was always something rewarding about walking through the horse barn at night after a full day’s work”. At the same time, 1935-1939, Malcolm MacCrimmon was a member of the CNR Pipe Band. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted with the Calgary Highlanders and was Malcolm in the uniform of 2nd Battalion, The Scots Guards-Armoured Division promptly attached to the pipe band. His uncle, Arthur (‘Art’) in Bon Accord, Alberta, had been researching family history, and arranged to Dame Flora, Mrs MacLeod of MacLeod and travel to Dunvegan Castle and meet Dame for him to meet George Poulter, a student of 28th Chief of the Clan MacLeod, outlining his Flora MacLeod of MacLeod in person. the MacCrimmon history and member of the genealogy and seeking her approval for him The outcome of their meeting was a verbal Clan MacCrimmon Society of London. George to wear a strip of MacLeod tartan attached agreement that established Malcolm MacCrim- Poulter lived in Surrey, not far from Camp to his pipes if the military authorities were mon as 9th Hereditary Piper to the Chief of Aldershot where the Calgary Highlanders were agreeable. the Clan MacLeod, entitled to carry the clan stationed. George Poulter gave Malcolm a chart Her response was warm, and included a re- ribbons on his pipes. Once the war was over, he had made from his research into the family: quest to Malcolm’s Commanding Officer that Dame Flora made a point of always including “it was 48 feet long,” said Malcolm. “He’d done he grant the request… “I should of course be the MacCrimmon family in her entourage an immense amount of work.” proud if he is so authorised and I understand whenever she visited Western Canada. George Poulter had confirmed that the that Maj. Gen. Gervase Thorpe is intending to Despite the War Office approvals and aristo- young soldier, who had arrived in England with discuss this matter with you,” she wrote. cratic support, irregular pipe adornments could his regiment in the spring of 1940, was indeed The Officer Commanding agreed. And, in still be contentious. Malcolm recalled telling a descendant of Donald Ruadh. Malcolm wrote 1942, Malcolm MacCrimmon took leave to one senior officer who objected to the ribbons PIPING TODAY • 40 Piping Today thanks Iain MacCrimmon and Flora Tourigny for use of all the MacCrimmon family photos TRIBUTE and do it,” Malcolm once told Piping Today (see: ‘Canadian MacCrimmon piping again’, Piping Today No. 19, p. 12-14). “Young people need to hear it. “Iain’s wholly involved with his piping. He’s a very good teacher and a good composer. He’s published four books of tunes and pipe bands all over the world play his tunes… tunes like Malcolm, Iain and Calum: three generations of MacCrimmons Morison Avenue, Maxwell’s Bonnet, Miss Laurie Jean Chilton(unfortunately recorded many times under the incorrect name of Triumph Street Pipe Band!)… and his son, Calum, is a very fine young piper. “Iain and Calum are both excellent players,” he said. “I could never come close to them. Even If I was 20 years’ old, I couldn’t play like Calum does. “It’s a gift, and that’s what the great Mac- Crimmon pipers had. They could have large Malcolm Roderick MacCrimmon as a boy in North Malcolm and Mairi MacCrimmon Vancouver and piping at Edmonton, Alberta families and I’m sure not all of them could have become pipers. on his pipes: “I want to get out of here, even Germany and Belgium, they headed “home” “Certain ones have that gift.” if it means going to Churchill to get it.” The to Canada in October 1945, and set to work For his part, Malcolm became well known officer snapped back: “MacCrimmon, what on the farm Malcolm’s father had bought: one as a prominent and dedicated piper in the would make Churchill so ‘official’?” Malcolm half of the company farm he had previously Edmonton area, playing for weddings, funer- replied: “Well, sir, you tell me what makes him managed. Here, Malcolm put his pipes aside als, Citizenship Court sittings, Burns Nights, unofficial.” for several years. Remembrance Day services and other func- A Sergeant Major promptly marched Mal- Mairi, though, began teaching Gaelic, a con- tions. He played with the “K” Division Royal colm MacCrimmon from the officer’s office tribution to Highland Canadians she continued Canadian Mounted Police Pipes and Drums and he was soon afterwards transferred to the to offer for many years afterwards. for its first official performance at the Change 2nd Battalion, The Scots Guards-Armoured In 1952, Malcolm’s father retired and sold of Command Ceremony and other ceremonial Division. It was a rare thing for a Canadian to the farm; Malcolm and Mairi moved into events. He was Official Piper for the Alberta be given a transfer to a British Regiment, and Edmonton where Malcolm worked for the Curling Association (1953-1973) and, as a the story was carried in newspapers all over the Edmonton Exhibition Association as foreman member of the Northern Alberta Society, to Britain and Canada. and icemaker of the old Edmonton Exhibition which he was also the honorary piper, he was As a Calgary Highlander, Malcolm Mac- Arena.

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