PIPE MAJOR ARCHIE CROSS (ex Seaforth and Queens Own Highlander)

Pipe Major ARCHIE CROSS, a former Queens Own Highlander (Seaforth & Camerons') passed away at the Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth UK, on Thursday 21-06-01 aged 65yrs, having suffered an aneurysm. Archie resided in Gosport Hampshire U.K, and was a native of Musselburgh NR Edinburgh. He had been taught to play in the local Boys Brigade Pipe Band at Musselburgh.

Archie was originally a coachbuilder but he enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in May 1957 "to see some action" to use his own words! He joined the Seaforths' in Munster, W. Germany, where they remained until returning to Scotland to amalgamate with the Cameron Highlanders at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh. This amalgamation occurred on 07th February 1961 when the Queen's Own Highlanders were formed. The Queens Own Highlanders have since been amalgamated with the Gordon Highlanders and the regiment is now known as "THE HIGHLANDERS".

After the Queens Own Highlanders were formed Archie then went with the regiment to Singapore where he was involved in the operations in Northern Borneo. In 1962 the regiment played a major part in suppressing the rebellion in Brunei, a small Sultanate on the northern shore of Borneo. "Archie composed a tune about the Queens Own involvement called "THE QUEENS OWN HIGHLANDERS AT ANDUKI"

The Pipes and Drums played their usual role as Battalion HQ defence platoon and were engaged in all the operations carried out by the battalion including the rescue of the Shell employees who had been taken hostage.

By then Archie was a lance corporal and by 1966 he had been promoted to the rank of corporal and posted to Aberdeen as a Piping Instructor at the Junior Soldiers Band Company.

He gained his British Army Pipe Majors certificate between 1967 and 1968. His course photograph, with the Jordanian piper who is now a retired Colonel features on the Video " The call to the Blood". Archie is in the rear row of the photograph.

The Queens Own Highlanders then had a busy couple of years being in the Persian Gulf for nine months; during which time the pipe band went to both Tokyo and Teheran to play at British Trade fairs. Back in Edinburgh there was the Commonwealth Games; Royal Guards of Honour and, of course, the Tattoo. During these tours Archie was a member of the Dancing Team, which performed on many occasions.

Within a year the Battalion managed to escape to Germany. Their tour was interrupted by their first four-month tour in Belfast with the Pipes and Drums becoming an infantry platoon.

Many people outside of the armed forces with Pipe Bands do not realise that as well as being musicians the pipers and drummers are also full time soldiers, unlike their military bandsmen colleagues who are deployed in the role of Medics.

At long last Archie was appointed Pipe Major to the Army Apprentices College at Harrogate and served there from 1972 until 1979 when he was seconded to the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. It was during this secondment that Archie left the British Army after his regulation 22 years but carried on as the Pipe Major to the Sultan of Brunei's forces until 1982.

Archie then moved to Hampshire with Pam and set up a shop called "A touch of Scotland" in Palmerston Road, Portsmouth. He ran this business for a number of years and during this time he also took the helm at the Rose and Thistle Pipe Band in Gosport. He continued at the helm of the Rose and Thistle for some years, refining those regular band members and the Itinerant Royal Naval Pipers who came and went with their respective "Drafts". Amongst some of Archie's former pupils is Mary Ann MacKinnon.

Archie continued with the Rose and Thistle band up till 1990 when he a number of others left to set up another band under the title of the "Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service" which Archie remained with until his untimely demise.

His funeral took place on Monday the 2nd of July 2001 at St Mary's Church Alverstoke, Gosport Hampshire. The service commenced at 1330hrs, and was conducted by David Loftus, a licensed lay preacher and a former Q.O.HLDRS military band corporal.

Piper Bill Maitland played Archie's coffin into the church to "Lord Lovat's Lament" in slow time. This was haunting to say the least. Insights into Archie's life both in the regiment and in the piping world were given by; Colonel (Ret'd) Andrew Duncan & P/Sgt. David Clark respectively.

After the service the cortege was marched 2 miles in the height of the summer sun to the burial ground at Ann's Hill, Gosport, led by a massed Pipes & Drums.

The massed band contained members of Archie's Band; The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service pipe band Southampton, along with members of the
Rose and Thistle pipe band Gosport, The Ringwood band Verwood, Dorset and also members of the Royal Navy Piping Society, friends and ex colleagues.

The band numbered 30 pipers, six side drums, 6 tenor drums, four bass drums & 3 Drum Majors, It was Headed by the Senior Drum Major JOE MACDONALD who himself was also an ex Cameron and Queens Own Highlander.

The tunes played were requested by Pam and consisted of:

Green Hills, Battle's O'er & Lochanside.

Galloway Hills, Bonnie Galloway, Rowan Tree & Scotland the Brave.

Leaving Port Askaig & Farewell to the Creeks.

At the graveside P/Sgt David Clark played, Flowers O' the Forest. As the mourners inspected the floral tributes the massed Ps & Ds played My Home and Highland Cathedral.

After the internment Archie's Seaforth plaid, dirk, belt and Glengarry, which had dressed the coffin, were handed to his widow, Pam. The Ps & Ds then led the family cars from the cemetery with; Caber Feidh and the 4/4 set as above, staying on Scotland the Brave until the cars had left the burial ground.

All "On parade" were then invited to the Gosport Masonic Hall where there was a bar & buffet. Given the extreme temperature a good many toasts were made to Archie!

Pipes and Drums are essential to Scots and Scottish Regiments providing not just music to march to but an emotional bond with the Country and the regiment. Beyond that the pleasure: which such bands give to the thousands that watch them, perhaps only once, is unquantifiable.

In all these piping endeavours Archie played a full and praiseworthy part. All those in his regiment and all others who knew him well will remember him as a fine performer, a friend and a true Highland Gentleman.

All in all, Archie had an excellent send off and will be sadly missed by all that he came into contact with, particularly in the piping world.

John A.B MacDonald
Pipe Major