THE music of a lone piper on the balcony of Centenary Tower echoed across the Valley Lake on Sunday afternoon to commemorate the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I 100 years ago.
Grant Harrington joined pipers around the world in playing the tune The Battle is O’er at the exact time the Armistice was signed in Europe in 1918.
The stirring tribute at the city’s iconic tower was the culmination of months of planning for Mr Harrington, who wished to participate in the world-wide action on behalf of his many family members who were involved in the armed forces.
“The Mount Gambier RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band combined with the RSL to march together, but I am not involved with the band and as such I wished to participate by playing a solo of the tune,” he explained.
“My grandfather on my mother’s side was a 21-year-old stockman in Mount Gambier who enlisted as a trooper in the 4th South Australian Imperial Bushman Regiment and participated in the Boer War.
“My grandfather on my father’s side immigrated in the late 1800s and was one of the initiates of the Mount Gambier Scottish Regiment.
“He remained in the Regiment, attaining the rank of captain and was a recruiting officer for World War I, retiring in the late 1920s.”
Mr Harrington’s uncle Jack was born in Mount Gambier and attained the rank of captain in Europe during World War I.
“He remained in the Army Reserve upon his return and was a recruiting officer in Mount Gambier for World War II,” he said.
“My father and uncles enlisted and fought in World War II, my brother and I and all our cousins have been involved in the armed forces and my father-in-law was a sergeant in the Grenadier Guards in the British forces and a veteran of Dunkirk.”
He said his family’s long history of involvement in the armed forces inspired him to play a part in the commemoration.
“I believe it is most fitting that – as a piper – I should do my bit in this worldwide commemorative service in appreciation of the participants in the conflicts, whether they returned or never did return,” Mr Harrington said.
“To pipe from the balcony of Centenary Tower, on the centenary of the signing of the Armistice and especially for the Mount Gambier past and present veterans, I believe is most fitting and would be appreciated by all who had family members of the forces.”
