Associated Scottish Pipers of Malaya

This group of bagpipers (henceforth pipers) and drummers consisting of Scotsmen based in Singapore and various Malay states was formed on the initiative of Frank Adam, managing director of the Straits Trading Company, who desired to create opportunities for pipers and drummers based in Malaya to play their instruments. In 1910, Adam began contacting pipers and drummers in Malaya and Singapore [Singapore Free Press, January 11, 1913, 6], and the group first performed as a band of five pipers and three drummers on the Padang in Kuala Lumpur on January 30, 1911 [Straits Times, February 3, 1911, 6]. On December 25 that year, the group performed during the intervals of the Singapore-Selangor rugby match at the same venue [Straits Times, December 28, 1911, 10]. For both performances, members not based in Kuala Lumpur had to travel in from Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Singapore. In 1912, members of the group performed for a children’s concert in Singapore’s Victoria Memorial Hall on July 31 [Singapore Free Press, August 1, 1912, 70], as well as for the Singapore-Selangor rugby match held on the Singapore Recreation Club grounds on Christmas Day [Singapore Free Press, December 27, 1912, 12].

Given the increasing size of the group, Adam decided to hold a meeting on January 10, 1913 in the Singapore Cricket Club to have the association formally incorporated, with Adam as President and J. Morton as Pipe Major. Lt. Col. Derrick of the Singapore Volunteer Corps also allowed the association the use of their Drill Hall for Wednesday practices. The architect David McLeod Craik designed the association’s badge, which was to be worn on a Glengarry bonnet, the insignia consisting of “two krisses proper, saltire wise, charged with the Malayan tiger, in a garter ribband surmounted by the motto “Primus in Indis.”” [Singapore Free Press, January 11, 1913, 6].

Following incorporation, the association’s members continued to perform at a variety of social and sporting events in colonial Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. In 1913, such events included playing during the intervals of military band performances in Singapore’s Botanical Gardens [Straits Times, August 15, 1913, 8; October 10, 1913, 8] and playing for the church parade for the Singapore Volunteer Corps [Straits Echo, August 25, 1913, 7]. Members were also naturally called upon to perform at Scottish community events such as the St. Andrew’s Dinner on November 29, 1913 for “Scottish members of the Singapore Club” [Singapore Free Press, December 1, 1913] and for the celebration of the birthday of national poet Robert Burns held by the Selangor St. Andrew’s Society on January 26, 1914 in Kuala Lumpur [Straits Times, January 28, 1914, 8].

During the First World War, the association’s members performed at events across Malaya and Singapore supporting various war relief funds. In 1915, such events included the Pipe Rally in Kuala Lumpur held on February 13, 1915 [Straits Times, February 8, 1915, 6; February 16, 1915, 3], along with the Scottish Concert in Singapore’s Victoria Theatre on April 16, 1915 [Straits Times, April 17, 1915, 10]; both events were held in aid of the Prince of Wales’s War Relief Fund. On October 28, 1916, members performed in Seremban to support the “Our Day” Fund [Pinang Gazette, Ocrober 28, 1916], and on Saint Andrew’s Day in 1917, pipers from the association performed during another Scottish Concert organised by the Singapore St. Andrew’s Society in the city’s Victoria Theatre in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund and “the Fund for providing comforts for Scottish soldiers” [Straits Times, December 1, 1917, 9].

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