Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. and Bar group of four awarded to Piper T. Nisbet, 1/7th (Fife) Battalion Royal Highlanders

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (1810 Piper, 1/7 R. Hdrs..-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (1810 Piper, R. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (1810 Cpl., R. Highrs.) mounted as worn; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed; together with an engraved prize medal, 33mm., silver, ‘HD’ ‘Won by Sgt. T. Nisbet 1/7th Black Watch R.H. B.E.F. France’, and ‘Highland Division Football Championship 1917-1918 Runners-up’, first four with contact marks, good fine and better (6) £3000-3600

M.M. London Gazette 19 January 1917.

Bar to M.M. London Gazette 10 December 1918.

Thomas Rennie Nisbet was born on 29 January 1892 in Halbeath, Dunfermline, Fife. Before the Great War he was employed as a Coal Miner and was a Piper in a local pipe band. Prior to enlisting, he was also ‘well known throughout Scotland and England as a public entertainer’ (ref. The People’s Journal, Fife & Kinross edition, 30 December 1916). At the time of his enlistment he was living at 2376 Moss Side Road, Cowdenbeath. Enlisting, he became a Piper with the 1/7th (Fife) Battalion Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 2 May 1915.

For the most part, Pipers of the battalion served as despatch runners, then latterly trained as lewis-gunners. Piper Nisbet took part in the Battle of Beaumont Hamel on 13 November 1916. Here the battalion ‘practically ceased to exist as a unit.’ With the exception of two platoons, one each from ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies who were attached to the 6th Battalion, the remainder of the 7th Battalion were chiefly employed as carrying parties. Here, Piper Nisbet was cited by Major-General Sir G. M. Harper, for his gallantry and was awarded the Military Medal.

During mid-July of 1918 the Battalion moved to the French front at Champagne. Here they took part in the the actions at Paradis, Espilly and the Bois de Courton during the heavy fighting of 20/21 July. The 7th Battalion War Diary noted determined resistance offered by the German defenders. ‘The enemy infantry early surrendered but his machine-gun detachments fought with great gallantry, few indeed surrendering until their supply of ammunition was entirely exhausted.’ Piper Nisbet was again recognised for his gallantry during this phase of the Champagne offensive, and was awarded the Bar to his Military Medal.

Corporal Nisbet was disembodied on 14 January 1919. Returning home, he lived at 158 Braod Street, Cowdenbeath. During the Second World War he served with the Home Guard and was entitled to the Defence Medal (not the War Medal above, which was possibly issued in error).

With two named ‘Gallantry on Active Service’ cards (badly stained) listing the dates when he performed his gallantry as 13 November 1916 and 20/24 January 1918; riband bar; postcard photograph of the recipient; together with copied m.i.c.; war diary and gazette extracts and other research.