Lamont William John Piper 2759608
Personnel Entry
Name Lamont William John
Army number 2759608
Rank Piper
Decorations M.M - gazetted 30/9/1941 for distinguished service in the field (commonly awarded to successful escaping PoWs), 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, British War Medal.
Date of birth 21-Jan-20 according to Army Records (family information confirms 21/1/1920).
Age 64 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in the Black Watch in Dundee 6/3/1940 as a Regular soldier. Posted immediately to the 1st Tyneside Scottish. Served BEF - disembarked for France 24/4/1940. Reported Missing 21/5/1940. Captured 1/6/1940 at Cambrai (notification as having been captured received on 3/9/1940 but with no indication of location). Escaped from Loekeren 4/8/1940. Recaptured in unoccupied France. Escaped for a second time 15/4/1941. Reached Gibraltar and evacuated to the UK - arriving Greenock 14/6/1941. Posted to No. 8 Infantry Training Centre (Perth) as a returned PoW. Posted 10th Battalion Black Watch 9/10/1941. Joined draft for Overseas Service 11/11/1943. Disembarked 27/4/1943. Served Middle East. Posted 6th Battalion Black Watch. Served Central Mediterranean Force - Italy. Struck off strength Middle East Force on return to the UK 1/4/1946. Disembarked UK 11/6/1946. Released 11/6/1946. Posted to the Class Z Reserve 19/9/46.
Joined 4/5 Cameron Highlanders 14/6/1952 and attended Training Camp at Stobs Camp - completing the training by 23/6/1952.
Company/Battery Battalion Headquarters (Pipe Band).
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Piper.
Joined Brigade 6/3/1940. Appears to have undergone Primary Training while with 1st TS, rather than at a Primary Training Centre.
Promotions Promoted Acting Unpaid Lance Corporal 24/9/1944. Returned to rank of Private at own request 27/10/1944.
Wounded Admitted to No. 53 General Hospital 21/8/1945, discharged back to 6th Battalion 27/8/1945. Admitted to No. 53 General Hospital 14/11/1945 and discharged back to Battalion 26/11/1945 (condition details not known).
Prisoner of War PoW Loekeren, Belgium and in unoccupied France before his second escape.
Died/Killed in action Date of death 25/1/1984.
Home address 20, Mansfield Street, Leslie, Fife. Worked as a painter and decorator. Married Josephine C Thomas Q1 1948, Swansea. Emigrated to Australia.
Source table 1TS
The Citation for Piper Lamont's Military Medal was researched by the late Major Mike Spurrier and was sent to the researcher in personal correspondence - that unstinting help in dealing with the Brigade's medal awards is acknowledged with considerable gratitude. Sincere thanks are due to Piper Lamont's granddaughter for family and Service Record information and photographs. These images are set out below and are quite typical Army "group" shots.
