Chilean Navy bagpipers

**hospitaller** · 20th June 09, 10:50 PM

Well what do you know, while looking at a video for some of the Chilean Armed Forces, there is a short sequence (about 5 seconds) where a marching company of fully battle ready DIM4 Cochrane (Marines) can be seen behind their equally fully battle equipped bagpipers.

Of note, Lord Cochrane was one of the founders of the Chilean Navy, much as John Paul Jones is known as "the father of the us navy". Marines in Chile date to 1818 when Lord Cochrane was commisioned as Vice-Admiral of the Fleet during Chile's own War of Independence from Spain.

This is the one and only unit in the Chilean Armed Forces authorized to have bagpipers as part of their TOE.

Needless to say, this is a fantastic surprise.

.

**Bigkahuna** · 20th June 09, 11:13 PM

Wow that might have caused some confusion if they got involved in the Falklands War!

**Highlander31** · 20th June 09, 11:34 PM

Cool. I didn't know Chile had pipers. Hospitaller, thanks for the bit of history as well.

**PGH** · 21st June 09, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Bigkahuna

Wow that might have caused some confusion if they got involved in the Falklands War!

Keep it under you hat but they did on the QT. Chile helped the UK, which is why Margaret Thatcher didn't want Pinochet arrested.

"In her letter, Baroness Thatcher wrote: 'By his actions the [Falklands] war was shortened and many British lives were saved.'"

**KFCarter** · 21st June 09, 04:56 AM

A day doesn't go by that I don't learn something interesting on this site! Thanks for posting that.

:ootd:

**NorCalPiper** · 21st June 09, 07:20 AM

I heard of this! They had special instructors come and do rigorous training with the pipers for almost a year and a half. They all did a good job from what i've heard (It was a small news clip some time ago...Maybe BBC). MAcCallum bagpipes made their pipes also. Cool isn't it?!?!?

**macwilkin** · 21st June 09, 09:02 AM

Of note, Lord Cochrane was one of the founders of the Chilean Navy, much as John Paul Jones is known as "the father of the us navy". Marines in Chile date to 1818 when Lord Cochrane was commisioned as Vice-Admiral of the Fleet during Chile's own War of Independence from Spain.

The Brazilian Marines (Corps of Naval Light Infantry) also maintain a pipe band:

https://www.mar.mil.br/cgcfn/cfn/bandas.htm

Note the Brazilian variant of a "glengarry" in the picture.

Lord Cochrane also served in the Brazilian Navy for a time.

Saludos,

Todd