Page Title

Photo of the Essex Scottish
crossing the bridge into Groningen, Holland,
in April of 1945.

Tom Coulson,
a graduate of the Army School of Bagpipe Music
in Edinburgh, Scotland,
was a member of this Essex Scottish Regiment.

In the photo
he may be seen, second piper on the far left.

A vignette of Tom Coulson (right)
was taken from
the above photo.

The South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum

The South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum Scots Guards Heritage

Pipe MajorTom Coulson,
W.O. II, Company Sergeant
Major, 2nd Canadian Diviision,
Essex Scottish 4th Brigade,
1st Battalion.
(C.O. Lt. Col. Ken MacIntyre)

Active Service from 1942 - 1955

Tom Coulson's Service Medals
are at right.

Pipe Major
William (Willie) Collie Ross
teaching piping students
at the
Army School of
Bagpipe Music
in 1935.

Pipe Major Willie Ross was
undoubtedly one of the
greatest pipers
Scotland ever produced.

Born in 1878 in
Glenstrathfarrar
in the Highlands
to Alick Ross
and Mary Collie,
he was one of a family of
3 sons and 3 daughters.

William enlisted in the
Scots Guards in 1896
and saw service
in both the Boer War and
Great War of 1914-1918.

Promoted to Pipe Major of
the 2nd Battalion in 1905,
his brother Alick was to
become Pipe Major of the
1st Battalion - a unique
situation.

William was invalided out of
the army in 1919,
suffering from an
acute rheumatic disorder
following a hard life
in the trenches.

In 1920 he became
Director
of the
Army School of
Bagpipe Music
and took his
office and residence
in Edinburgh Castle.

His record in
competitive piping
was unique:

Gold Medal Iverness 1904;
Gold Medal Oban 1907;
Open Piobaireachd winner
in 1907, 1912, and 1928.

Winner of The Clasp in
1905, 1906, 1907, 1910,
1912, 1919, 1928 and 1931.

As the former winner of the
March, Strathspey and Reel
at Oban and Inverness he
was champion 11 times.

Many regarded him as the
world's greatest piper,
a brilliant player,
teacher and composer.

He published 5 books
of pipe music,
which are used
all over the world.

Pipe Major William Ross
tutored many piping students
at Edinburgh Castle,
including Tom Coulson,
a piper with the
Essex Scottish 4th Brigade
in 1942.

This lineage from the
Boer War piper,
William (Willie) Collie Ross,
and the WWII piper,
Tom Coulson,
led directly to
the creation of the
South Dakota Highlanders
Pipe & Drum.

Interestingly, an extremely
rare set of Glencoe
blackwood bagpipes,
originally chosen
and played regularly by
Pipe Major Tom Coulson,
recently served a
Tour of Duty in Iraq
with US Forces.

Amazingly, these historic
bagpipes are still being
played by members of the
South Dakota Highlanders
Pipe & Drum
in 2011.

Also,
our Summer Desert Uniform
(see the 2010 Gallery page)
was designed to
highlight and pay tribute
to our hereditary
Pipe Majors:
Ross and Coulson.

The excellence in
training new pipers
and new drummers,
exemplified by our
legendary forbears
in piping,
Pipe Major Willie Ross and
Pipe Major Tom Coulson,
is still carried on as an
honored and respected
tradition today by the
South Dakota Highlanders
Pipe & Drum.

You have the
genuine opportunity to
express yourself
as a Highland Piper
or Drummer; and,
move into important
leadership positions.

You can meet many
outstanding people
and enjoy
many new friendships.

You can make a
beneficial difference
in the lives of others.

You can experience a
colorful,
cultural adventure
that will change your life
forever.

Come join us.

The South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum Heritage
is traced to the legendary Scots Guards prior to the Boer War of 1899.

Pipe Major William (Willie) Collie Ross (M.V.O, M.B.E.),
enlisted in the Scotch Guards in 1896 and saw service as a piper in the Boer War in 1899.
He became Pipe Major of the Scotch Guards 2nd Regiment in 1905.
In 1920 Pipe Major Ross became Director of the Army School of Bagpipe Music in Edinburgh, Scotland,
where he taught students the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol.
(See side bar)

Pipe Major Tom Coulson
(W.O. II, Company Sergeant Major, 2nd Canadian Division, Essex Scottish 4th Brigade, 1st Battalion)
learned the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol
from Pipe Major William Collie Ross.
Tom Coulson was the Convener and Founding Pipe Major of the
MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums of Des Moines, Iowa,
where he taught students the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol.

Ron Husted,
a US Navy Veteran and member of the Scottish American Military Society,
joined the MacKenzie Highlanders of Des Moines, and learned the art of
Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol from Pipe Major Tom Coulson.
Ron Husted is the Pipe Sergeant of the MacKenzie Highlanders of Des Moines,
where he teaches students the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol.
He is also a piper in the South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum.

Norwood BayBridge (FSA Scot),
a US Air Force (SAC) Veteran and Regional Commander of the Scottish American Military Society,
joined the MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums of Des Moines, Iowa,
and learned the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol
from MacKenzie Highlanders Pipe Sergeant Ron Husted.
Pipe Major BayBridge is the Convener and Founding Pipe Major
of the South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum
where he taught students the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol.

Don Christensen, U. S. Army (Ret.)
joined the South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum and learned the art of
Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol from Pipe Major Norwood BayBridge.
Don Christensen was the Founding Pipe Sergeant of the South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum
where he taught the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol.

Prof. Douglas McFarland, PhD, SDSU,
is a recognized and celebrated South Dakota Educator and Piper of many years standing.
Doug joined the South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum in December, 2009,
and became Pipe Sergeant of the South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum in May 2010,
where he teaches the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol.

Dr. Blake Curd, MD,
a United States Air Force and Iraqi War Veteran,
joined the South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum in 2009,
and learned the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol
from Pipe Major Norwood BayBridge and Pipe Sergeant Douglas McFarland.
Blake became Pipe Corporal of the South Dakota Highlanders Pipe & Drum
and he currently assists in teaching the art of
Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol.

In the decades to come, this list will grow longer
as many more dedicated pipers will carry on the heritage of excellence
in the art of Highland Piping and Scottish Regimental Parade Protocol
that started with Pipe Major Willie Ross of the Scots Guards Regiment in 1896.

The world needs good pipers and drummers.
You can make a difference in the lives of men and women a century from now, too,
just as Pipe Major Willie Ross has done.

If you are interested in performing as a Marching Member,
we would like you to join and participate.

You can be an important member of the team. We're inviting you.

Make this the turning point in your life.

We are sad to report that Pipe Major Tom Coulson passed away on Easter Sunday, 2009.

He is missed.

South Dakota's Elite Pipe and Drum Band that Honors our Heroes