William Millar Nicholson Duncan Dumbreck
was born 28th December 1866 in Linlithgow. Dumbreck,
according to his obituary, was pipe-major of the 1st
Black Watch, to which, when he was appointed, was the
youngest pipe-major in the British Army.
William wrote numerous times for the pipes including
Carriber Glen, Pipers Farewell to Gibraltar, West
Lothian Volunteers, Major H.F. Elliot's Welcome to
Wolflee, Captain Macdonalds Strathspey, 42nd Welcome to
Mauritius, Lt. J.B. Pollock's Welcome to Craig, Lt. A.D.
Murray's Farewell to the Black Watch and Millbank
Cottage. He wrote the latter piece for his sister
Lillias Dumbreck when she lived at Millbank Cottage,
Uphall. The tune was composed in 1887 for his sister’s
house built in that year. A descendant of the Pipe Major
still lives in the same house at Station Road, Uphall,
Midlothian.
William died in 1935 at the age of 68; he received a
military funeral to Linlithgow Cemetery. A party of
eighteen members of A Company, Linlithgow 4-5th
Battalion Royal Scots (T.), formed a Guard of Honour and
firing party. Ten pipers drawn from Torphichen,
Philpstoun and Linlithgow, and three drummers played
"The Flowers of the Forest" from the deceased's home to
the cemetery. At the graveside the Rev. Dr. R. Coupar,
St. Michael's Church, Linlithgow, officiated. A piper
from headquarters, 4-5th Royal Scots, Edinburgh, played
"Lochaber No More" whilst the last volley was being
fired. Then Pipe-Major Alexander Forrest, Torphichen,
played "Millbank Cottage" the pipe composition by the
deceased, one of his most famous compositions. Bugler
John Walker, headquarters, 4-5th Royal Scots, sounded
the "Last Post" and "Reveille."
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