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Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon
was born in the lovely wee town of Dunoon, located on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. UK.
Known to pipers as John McLellan, Dunoon. John, or Jock as he was known to his family & friends, was a very talented musician, music composer, lyricist & poet who was born in Dunoon on the 8th of August, 1875.
He was the town's best known composer of pipe music and songs, and is perhaps best remembered for writing the music to the very popular songs 'The Road to the Isles', 'Lochanside' & 'Freedom Come All Ye'.
was born in the lovely wee town of Dunoon, located on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. UK.
Known to pipers as John McLellan, Dunoon. John, or Jock as he was known to his family & friends, was a very talented musician, music composer, lyricist & poet who was born in Dunoon on the 8th of August, 1875.
He was the town's best known composer of pipe music and songs, and is perhaps best remembered for writing the music to the very popular songs 'The Road to the Isles', 'Lochanside' & 'Freedom Come All Ye'.
Born in the town's St Andrew's Street, on August 8th 1875. John McLellan was one of a family of six children all born in Dunoon. He had three sisters & two brothers. His parents were Neil McLellan & Mary Darroch McLellan who hailed from the islands of Islay and Jura respectively. They came to the Scottish mainland to find work in 1869, and after marrying in Greenock, decided to settle in Dunoon. Unfortunately, when John was only 8 years old, his father became seriously unwell and Neil McLellan tragically died of pneumonia, while still in his early 40's.
After that tragic event John's mother decided it was best for them to return to her native Jura, and remain there for a period of time, before eventually returning to Dunoon.
John spent his formative years on Jura with his family, and while he was there, it appears that he learned to play the bagpipes, and a few other musical instruments too. He also learned to read music, though there aren't any records from that time to tell us who taught him, or indeed who helped him develop this amazing talent.
It's obvious that his time on Jura really made quite a big impression on Jock, because he later composed a number of memorable tunes dedicated to the island including 'The Bens of Jura,' 'The Paps of Jura' and 'The Maids of Jura'.
John spent his formative years on Jura with his family, and while he was there, it appears that he learned to play the bagpipes, and a few other musical instruments too. He also learned to read music, though there aren't any records from that time to tell us who taught him, or indeed who helped him develop this amazing talent.
It's obvious that his time on Jura really made quite a big impression on Jock, because he later composed a number of memorable tunes dedicated to the island including 'The Bens of Jura,' 'The Paps of Jura' and 'The Maids of Jura'.
In 1892, John turned 17 years old, and it was then that he decided to join the army.
He travelled up to Glasgow and signed up with the Highland Light Infantry (HLI) not long after that, and after a few years of training in various places around the UK, he was sent overseas to Malta.
According to archive records, the H.L.I. did service in a number of countries. After Malta they were posted to Crete to help quell disturbances there, before moving on to Egypt. John's most famous melody at that time was entitled 'The Burning Sands of Egypt', also known as 'The Bens of Jura' though today that tune is known as 'The Road to the Isles'.
*In 1899, the HLI were bound for the South African War as one of the units of the Highland Brigade. The Boer War lasted four years and the Highland Brigade was in the thick of it. It was at one of these famous actions that John won the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). He also composed the famous and well-loved Retreat Air 'The Highland Brigade at Magersfontein' to commemorate the battle.
*In 1899, the HLI were bound for the South African War as one of the units of the Highland Brigade. The Boer War lasted four years and the Highland Brigade was in the thick of it. It was at one of these famous actions that John won the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). He also composed the famous and well-loved Retreat Air 'The Highland Brigade at Magersfontein' to commemorate the battle.
John left the army in 1903 and after his return to Scotland he joined the Govan Police Pipe Band. Later this band became the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band and eventually the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.*
It appears that Jock only played with the Govan Police Pipe Band till 1904, after which time he returned to Dunoon where he became a teacher of the bagpipes and continued to compose his tunes and songs. It's possible that around that time, he also learned to play other musical instruments, because later in life he wrote a number of tunes for the fiddle and penny whistle.
In 1912, he joined the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH) Territorial Army Unit, and at the start of the Great War in 1914, the unit was mobilized and sent to France.
In 1919, John McLellan DCM was appointed as the Pipe Major of the 8th Argyll's Pipe Band a post he relished until his retirement in 1930.
On the music front, 1917 was the year when P/M John McLellan DCM's tune titled 'The Bens Of Jura' was first published, and appeared in a local Argyll tune book collection titled 'Songs of the Hebrides Vol. 2'. The tune quickly became a favourite on the live music circuit at that time. 8 years later the tune reappeared as 'The Road To The Isles' on the flip side of Sir Harry Lauder's popular song 'Keep Right On To The End of The Road' which became a worldwide hit.
If you'd like to know more about Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon, please visit Jock's Music Legacy & YouTube page in this website and watch the YouTube video of the 'Cowal Virtual Highland Gathering 2020' which features Jock's great nephew Pipe Major Jim Henderson in front of the camera reminiscing about the man, and it has some great music too!
Pipe Major Jim McLellan
During the early 1970's this plaque was dedicated to the memory of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, and placed at Dunoon's Castle House Gardens by his many friends & The local Council. It can be seen there to this day!
*Edited excerpt from P/M Jim Henderson's article in the Bagpipe News website.
*Edited excerpt from P/M Jim Henderson's article in the Bagpipe News website.
Photo Credits:
A number of Jock's photos which appear in this website and on my Spotify Playlists were found online, and also at the fine websites belonging to Pipingpress.com, Bagpipe.news and The Cowal Highland Gathering.
My sincere thanks to Pipingpress.com Bagpipe.news, Pipetunes.ca, the Anglo Boer War website and The Cowal Highland Gathering for allowing me to use their photos.
( Photo of Isle of Jura above. Courtesy of Island-Light.Photography )
A number of Jock's photos which appear in this website and on my Spotify Playlists were found online, and also at the fine websites belonging to Pipingpress.com, Bagpipe.news and The Cowal Highland Gathering.
My sincere thanks to Pipingpress.com Bagpipe.news, Pipetunes.ca, the Anglo Boer War website and The Cowal Highland Gathering for allowing me to use their photos.
( Photo of Isle of Jura above. Courtesy of Island-Light.Photography )
