Even the meanest Sassenach like me cannot fail to be stirred by the heroic military annals of the Scots. The phrase “The Thin Red Line” dramatically evokes British soldiers facing overwhelming odds, and the originals were Scottish Redcoats, the 93rd Foot (later the Sutherland Highlanders), who repulsed a major Russian attack in the Crimea in 1854.
Bill Millin was wading towards the shore alongside his fellow soldiers, but instead of a gun, he was holding his bagpipe as he began his most dangerous performance with Hielan' Laddie.