George Findlater

Wounded in both feet, he played on to rally the oncoming men

George Frederick Findlater grew up at Turriff, Aberdeenshire, in a large family. He worked as a farm labourer before joining the Gordon Highlanders in April 1888. His service took him to Ceylon and then to the northwest frontier of India. He took part in the Chitral relief operations in 1895 and became a battalion piper the following year.

On 20 October 1897, the Gordon Highlanders were ordered to storm the Dargai Heights during the Tirah campaign. Defenders on the heights had pinned down earlier attackers. Findlater advanced with the pipers at the head of the battalion, but was struck in both feet and could no longer stand. He dragged himself against a boulder and continued playing under fire to encourage the charge. The Gordons reached the hillside and carried the position.

Queen Victoria presented his Victoria Cross while he was recovering at Netley Hospital in May 1898. His fame made him a popular concert and music-hall attraction. He defended those engagements as a way of supplementing an inadequate pension, despite official disapproval.

In 1899 he married Nellie Findlater and returned to northeast Scotland. They raised a family and settled at Cairnhill, a small farm near Forglen. When the First World War began, he volunteered again, joining the 9th Gordon Highlanders. Promoted sergeant piper, he went to France in July 1915. The old foot injuries troubled him during that campaign; he returned to Britain at the end of the year and subsequently served at home until demobilisation.

Findlater resumed farming and remained active as a local pipe-major. He died on 4 March 1942 and was buried at Forglen. His medal group records both frontier campaigns and renewed service in the First World War.

Official Victoria Cross citation

During the attack on the Dargai Heights on the 20th October, 1897, Piper Findlater, after being shot through both feet, and unable to stand, sat up, under a heavy fire, playing the Regimental March to encourage the charge of the Gordon Highlanders.

The London Gazette of 20 May 1898, Numb. 26968, p. 3165