Donald Lindsay Sproule

by Laurie Porter

My late father, Lieutenant Donald Lindsay Sproule was in 7th Division Signals during WW2.

His photo appears on page 49 of the book "Signals" - he was "snapped" whilst on a boat, playing his bagpipes, as the men were leaving for the Middle East. His beloved bagpipes travelled with him throughout the war. At one time, his pipes were on a ship which was bombed. They were returned to him, one piece at a time - whenever an unfamiliar item was retrieved from the wreck of the ship, he would be asked something to the effect: "Does this happen to be a piece of your bagpipes, by any chance?" Only one piece (of trim) from his bagpipes remained lost.

I now have those precious bagpipes (still with one piece missing).