Pipe Major James Groat DCM, MM & Bar one of several pipers of the 16th Battalion, CEF, awarded medals of gallantry in the Great War. Groat’s Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal and Bar, represent three awards for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
In 1915 the 16th Battalion, Canadian Scottish, had 17 pipers, but only three remained on strength by 1918. Eight had been killed or died of wounds, and the remainder wounded.
LCol Cyrus Peck VC on Pipers
The Commanding Officer inspired his pipers, and through their deeds the offensive spirit of the Battalion.
“When I first proposed to take pipers into action, I met with a great deal of criticism. I persisted, and as I have no Scottish blood in my veins, no one had reason to accuse me of acting from racial prejudices. I believe that the purpose of war is to win victories, and if one can do this better by encouraging certain sentiments and traditions, why shouldn’t it be done? The heroic and dramatic effect of a piper stoically playing his way across the modern battlefield, altogether oblivious of danger, has an extraordinary effect on the spirit of his comrades.”
LCol Cyrus Peck VC
In accordance with these views, when the Battalion went into action five pipers accompanied it, one for each company and the Colonel’s piper. Each piper played two tunes, and two only, the company tune and another, these tunes being made known to all ranks before battle.
Then there was the objection as to the loss of life.
“Pipers are conspicuous. That is part of the game. Officers, machine gunners and runners are conspicuous. People get killed in war because they are conspicuous; many get killed when they are not, and that’s part of the game, too.”
LCol Cyrus Peck VC
Writing of the Pipe-major, Jimmy Groat from the Camerons, Winnipeg, Colonel Peck says:
“Groat was the soul of our pipers; full of zeal for the music; a grim, dark-visaged, silent man with a brave heart. He played in five actions.”
Service of Pipe Major James Grout
Groat born at Durris, Kincardine, Scotland on 18 December 1884, and came to Canada in 1906. Private James Groat 29327 joined the 16th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 23 September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec, having arrived at Valcartier as a member of the 79th Cameron Highlanders of the Canadian Militia. Prior to the war he worked in Winnipeg as a Motorman with Winnipeg Electric.
March 1915
And there was a greater freshness and cheerfulness amongst the troops generally. The siege warfare outlook had not seized upon the imagination. The trenches were looked upon as temporary barriers only. Spies were supposed to be at work in the line and behind it.
“X— was hit through the lungs last night,” reads the diary of a 16th man. “Before death he was delirious and kept saying ‘I will get information through tonight.’ This was repeated in the presence of four persons.”
From behind the front the spies were supposed to signal information to the enemy by means of lights and telephone instruments installed in basements and garrets. The old French ploughman who made frequent halts in the furrow was suspected of indicating to the enemy in this manner the location of reserve companies and batteries.
Snipers were reported to be firing at night from haystacks and houses. Captain Geddes was of the opinion that the trees around Cellar and la Cordonnerie farms, close to the breastwork, harboured a nest of snipers. If so, suggested the officers of a neighbouring infantry battalion, they must have been placed there for the purpose of sniping the company piper, Jimmie Groat, who played most nights at Number 4 Company’s headquarters at the latter place.
Second Battle of Ypres
During Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915, pipers James Thomson 28694 and William McIvor 28779 of the 16th Battalion died of wounds received following a German gas attack.
A month later, pipers George Birnie 28595 and Angus Morrison 29468 of the 16th Battalion died from enemy fire.
On 29 October 1915 Jimmie to be Sergeant Piper. Nealy a year later, on 9 October 1916, piper John Park 28561 of the 16th Battalion killed.
9 April 1917
But of more intimate concern to 16th men was another group which had just arrived from the rear. It was headed by Pipe-major Groat and Piper Allan McNab, playing lustily. Then came Colonel Peck, next Regimental Sergeant-major Kay, followed by the Colonel’s servant, and last of all Kay’s batman with a jar of rum under each arm. At first the company men were too occupied with the consolidation work on hand to show their feelings. The scattered cheer was heard, but, as the procession drew nearer and got into the final objective, a volume of cheering broke out on all sides, apparently directed in greater part to the last figure with the jars.
H. M. URQUHART, D.S.O., M.C., A.D.C.
Military Medal
Pipe Major James Groat awarded the Military Medal on 18 July 1917 for actions at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
For most conspicuous gallantry and nonchalance under shell and machine gun fire in the attack of April 9th, 1917 on the THELUS trenches. His splendid example while piping the Commanding Officer to the new headquarters in the captured position, encouraged and had an immediate stiffening effect on the men when temporarily held up by enemy machine gun fire.
Military Medal Citation
Pipe Major James Groat MM awarded the bar to the Military Medal during actions at the Battle of Hill 70 in August of 1917.
Battle of Hill 70
And once more Pipe Major Groat came to the fore. When Battalion Headquarters, headed by Groat, reached the dug-out allocated to them in the captured territory, they ran into severe enemy shelling. The Commanding Officer [Peck] shouted to the pipe major to take cover, but Groat pretending he had not heard the order, went on playing. Afterwards he confidentially explained to a comrade that, whilst, as a matter of fact, he had heard the Colonel’s order, it was never proper for a piper to break off in the middle of a tune, adding “and no damned German will ever make me do it.”
H. M. URQUHART, D.S.O., M.C., A.D.C.
Throughout the day of the 16th and the night 16th/17th, the enemy shelled continuously. The relief of the Battalion taking place that night greatly hampered. Four a.m., the 17th, before completed, and the Commanding Officer and Battalion Headquarters, a group of tired looking, mud-stained men, headed by the pipe major, able to return to Mazingarbe. The pipe major played ceaselessly the whole way.
Bar to Military Medal
On Aug: 15th 1917, this N.C.O. according to Battn custom played the Headquarters forward to their new position through a terrific shell-fire. He remained in the captured position until the Battalion was relieved two days later. His example has built up the “esprit du corps” of the pipers of the Regiment to such an extent that there is always a keen rivalry amongst them to lean their companies into section. (sic – should read “action”.)
In August 1918, piper George Paul, who later received a Military Medal killed while playing the bagpipes atop a tank in Amiens. Piper Alexander McGillivray of the 16th Battalion, who also received a Military Medal, killed by a shell burst.
DCM September 1918
At midnight (2nd/3rd) the Commanding Officer gave the order to move. Numbers 1, 3 and 4 Company Commanders, whose men were lying in the open, immediately left for their companies; Number 2 Company, which was in the dug—out, got ready to follow. Colonel Peck, when speaking of the Pipe Band, helps to describe the scene in the dug-out at this particular moment.
“Jimmy Groat was standing not far away from me, puffing a long black pipe, and straining his eyes to read a paper in the flickering light from the candle on my table. I was leaning forward on the table close by him, gazing at the map of the coming battle. Word is passed down the stairs ‘Move on Number 2 Company.’ Groat quietly lays down the paper, nods to me and turns to go. Then, in a moment another order comes: ‘Stand fast Number 2 for ten minutes.’ He turns and lays down his Pipes on the wire bed, pulls out his old pipe and lights it, picks up the paper and reads. I don’t think I ever saw a finer picture of mental control.”
LCol Cyrus Peck VC
Pipe Major James Grout Wounded
Pipe Major James Grout MM & Bar wounded at Arras on 2 September 1918. He received a shrapnel wound to his left arm, that led to a compound, oblique fracture of the humerus. The exit wound large and open when admitted to Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, England. By this time, the wound severe, ragged, and septic. For three months he wore a Thomas splint and felt pain through his 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers, and around the muscles of his thumb.
In September 1918, Pipe Major James Groat awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for playing his colonel (Cyrus Peck VC) into action.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the 20th (sic – should read 2nd) September, 1918, in the second battle Arras. For the fourth or fifth time during this war he played his Battalion over the top in a battle. He was continually under heavy machine gun fire and at one time was playing in the midst of furious hand-to-hand fighting. At last he was wounded by shrapnel after adding a fine record to the courage of Highland Pipers.
DCM Citation 16 January 1919
In June 1919, Pipe Major James Groat admitted to Manitoba Military Hospital in Winnipeg. “Muscles of arm and forearm and hand slightly wasted. Shoulder movements slightly limited. Elbow-flexion slightly limited. Wrist and all finger movements are defective especially on radial side of hand. Sensation-partial loss of tactile over whole hand but marked over radial distribution. Considerable pain present. Hand grip poor. Triceps very poor as large part of muscle has been shot away.”
Following surgery on 25 July 1919 Pipe Major James Groat continued on a course of treatment through to 7 June 1920 when finally discharged from hospital. Having served 43 months in France and Flanders, discharged as medically unfit 6 July 1920.
Pipe Major James Groat MM & Bar, DCM, died 27 March 1961 at Winnipeg, Manitoba where he lived at the Majestic Hotel. Buried in the Military Section of Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg.
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