Piper twice awarded honour

Bravery medals awarded to a First World War piper fetched £3,600 at auction yesterday.

Thomas Nisbet, from Cowdenbeath, worked as a coal miner before enlisting as a piper with the 1/7th (Fife) Battalion Royal Highlanders (Black Watch).

He was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of his gallantry in 1916, and again in 1918.

Nisbet, who reached the rank of corporal, returned to Cowdenbeath and later served in the Home Guard during the Second World War.

His medals – which also include a gong for football won with the Highland Division in 1918 – were sold at Dix Noonan Webb’s Medals and Militaria sale in London.

Will Bennett, spokesman for the auctioneers, said: “The medals attracted a strong price, which reflects Nisbet’s interesting story.”

He added: “Nisbet was renowned for his skill with the bagpipes before the First World War so it was not surprising that when he joined the Fife Territorial Battalion of the Black Watch he was given the rank of Piper.

“To win the Military Medal twice was an amazing achievement. We don’t know precisely what Nisbet did to receive this gallantry medal on two occasions but he was clearly a very brave man indeed.”

Nisbet was born in 1892 in Halbeath, Fife. He was employed as a coal miner and played in a local pipe band.