Death at Somme honoured with piping

EXACTLY 100 years after he died on a distant battlefield, the haunting skirl of David Grant’s bagpipes filled the air on Saturday.

Each year a piping scholarship is given to University of Otago students in Pte Grant’s name and is supported by his nephew and University of Otago alumnus Dr Peter Grant.

The David A. Grant scholarship is given to students who complete the university’s music performance paper in Scottish piping or drumming.

An event to mark the 100 years since his death at the Somme was held at St Margaret’s College on Saturday.

Dr Grant, who lives in Toronto, said the losses of World War 1 were still strongly remembered in New Zealand, and particularly Otago.

In letters sent back to New Zealand his uncle described war as ‘‘hell’’ and a world away from the peace and quiet he left on the Taieri, Dr Grant said.

Another of Pte Grant’s relatives, Judy Emmett, brought along his original bagpipes, which he left behind in New Zealand.

Past scholarship recipient James Wansink played the pipes during the event.

This year’s recipients, Juliet Johnson and Sam Darling, were unable to attend, because they were competing in the Australian Pipe Band Championships.

The Alexander Leith Bag pipe and Drum Scholarship, also given to University of Otago students, was celebrated on Saturday.

The scholarship is named after Alexander Leith, who immigrated to New Zealand in 1849 from Sutherlandshire, in Scotland.

PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Family history . . . Dr Peter Grant and Judy Emmett examine their relative David Grant’s bagpipes which are more than 100 years old, while James Wansink pipes in the background. An event was held at St Margaret’s College on Saturday to mark 100 years...