by TABBY ANGIER
Arthur Campbell, who now lives in Blairgowrie and is in his nineties, is perhaps the only Royal Navy survivor of the Korean War who played pipes on board ship. His ship, HMS Black Swan, was the first ship to arrive in Korea to protect the troops. Arthur also marched as part of the Naval contingent in the Coronation Parade on June 2, 1953.
Over the years, Arthur had lessons from John D. Burgess and Norman ‘Norrie’ Gillies amongst others. John D. thought his pipes were a very old set of MacDougalls.
Arthur played informally with The Connaught Rangers, The Royal Scots, The K.O.S.B., The Black Watch, The Hong Kong Police Pipe Band, and was a Member of the Isle of Skye Pipe band under Pipe Major Donnie Mackenzie. He is also a member of the Royal Navy Piping Society.
For many years he played for the N.E. Scotland Branch of the British Korean Veterans Association (Scotland’s Elite!) A while back he played at the Bathgate R.B.L. when the South Korean Defence Attache presented Peace Medals to Korean War Veterans. He played Ari-Rang, a Korean Folk song, that was popular on-board ship in Korea.
Wherever Arthur plays, and he is still playing, it is always such a pleasure for the assembled company to enjoy his cheerful presence, nearly 70 years after the end of the Korean War.
