SHORTLY After LANDING IN FRANCE,

tHE 51St HIGHLAND DIVISION PRODuCED ItS OWN NEWSLEttER CALLED PIOBAIREACHD, WHICH IS GAELIC FOR PIPING. tHE FIRSt EDItION DIStRIButED tO tROOPS ON JuNE 14, 1944, OPENED WItH tHIS ADDRESS FROM DIVISIONAL COMMANDER BuLLEN-SMItH: THIS is the first daily newssheet to be issued since the Division returned to France.

Four years ago, our Division fought the Germans in France.

Through weight of numbers, overpowering air support and equipment generally, the Germans were then able to oust us, despite every gallant endeavour, from France.

Today the picture is different. The much vaunted Western Wall has been pierced and shattered by the assaulting troops. Already we have been into France, well into France too, for nine days, whereas the Germans said they would defeat the invasion on the beaches.

The Division has played its part, with at first only small forces engaged, in a notable way towards the 2nd Army’s grand achievements. The 5th Black Watch, the first battalion of the Division into action, has covered itself with glory, and the fields of Normandy with dead Germans.

The Gordon Highlanders have had a good fight, and have more than held their own. The Seaforth and Cameron Highlanders were in action, and ready as always to do likewise. Our Gunners, and Machine Gunners, have already fired many shells, bombs and bullets, had many successes and done much sterling work. And so have all the other units in the Division. So we have made a start. Not a spectacular start, such as was the Division’s fortune at Alamein, but a brave start nonetheless.

Before us lie hard days and hard fighting. But there is no doubt that our present operations are going well, and that we are making a great contribution to those operations.

Let us go ahead, then, with confidence in ourselves, faith in our cause, and with a grim determination to do our best at all times, so that Germany can quickly be brought to her knees, and the War won.

To all ranks in the Division, I send you my greetings, and the best of good luck. I have absolute confidence in you. So has the Army.

In Africa and Sicily, we showed the world what the sons of Scotland can do. That was nine months ago. We will show it again now.