Annotation:Ninety-First at Modder River (The)

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NINETY-FIRST AT MODDER RIVER, THE. AKA - "Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders at Modder River (The)," "March of the 93rd at Modder River," "91st at Modder River (The)," "93rd Argylls at Modder River (The)." Scottish, Pipe March (2/4 time). B Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB'CCDD'. The pipe march is credited to Pipe Major William Robb of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, winner of the Gold Medal at Oban in 1893. He was Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from 1887-1891, and of the 1st Argylls from 1891-1894.

The title refers to the Modder river in South Africa, the site of British setbacks in the Boer War (1899-1902). The 91st Regiment is the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and the 1st Battalion of the regiment joined Lord Methuen in October, 1899, in time to take a prominent part in the battle of the Modder River. By that time the war was a month old, with the Boers, Dutch-German settlers, laying siege to Ladysmith, Mafeking and Kimberly. Methuen set off in relief of Kimberly, with the 91st and piper James Mackay. Harrased by snipers, the column reached the Modder River, 25 miles from Kimberly, on November 28th and the Highlanders were sent to secure a railroad bridge across the river that was thought to be lightly defended by the settlers. Instead, they found an entrenched foe of some 7,000, who laid down a deadly fire with rifles and field artillery. The Argyle and Sutherlanders managed to ford the river, but on the far bank they were pinned down by withering fire. Only nightfall allowed them to retreat and regroup for a push the next day. However, on arising they found the Boers had deserted their positions during the night, after inflicting 468 casualties on the British against 20 of their own dead.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Martin (Ceol na Fidhle, vol. 4), 1991; p. 43.

Recorded sources: SMCD9607, Sandy MacIntyre - "Steeped in Tradition" (1996). Sandy MacIntyre - "The Sandy MacIntyre Collection: Cape Breton Fiddle (Steeped and Served)" (2010).

See also listing at:
Hear Cape Breton fiddler Dan Joe MacInnis's 78 RPM recording [1] (followed by the reel "Mulin Dhu/Muileann Dubh").