Piper Kenneth MacKay - Battle of Waterloo

Though technically not an Appleyard, descendants of Alfred Henry and Catherine Appleyard are also descended from Kenneth MacKay, a Scottish Piper made famous for his actions at the Battle of Waterloo.  

Piper Mackay has become part of Scottish folklore with his heroics captured by J B Anderson in the painting, Piper Kenneth MacKay at Waterloo, the image reproduced and popular among tourists and war historians alike.

Born in 1782, Kenneth's marriage certificate details the groom as being born in Cromarty, an area in the Scottish Highlands.  A soldier, Kenneth was part of the Ross Shire Militia at the time he married Sarah McFarlane from Lanark in Glasgow in 1805.

In 1809 and 1811, Kenneth and Sarah welcomed their daughters, Catherine and Agnes and in 1815, Kenneth is listed as part of the 79th Cameron Highlanders fighting in Belgium.  At the time of enlistment Kenneth listed his place of birth as Reay on the north coast of Caithness in Scotland.

The 1st Battalion 79th Cameron Highlanders was raised in 1793, and was known as the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameronian Volunteers). In 1806, the official name of record was changed and the regiment became the 79th Cameron Highlanders.

The regiment won 15 battle honours and earned special renown in the Napoleonic Wars, especially during the Peninsular Campaign and the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The 79th Cameron Highlanders was one of four regiments of Highlanders requested by the Duke of Wellington for the Battle of Waterloo and in June 1815, the regiment was at Quatre Bras, where the French infantry and cavalry kept them under constant attack. 

Cameron had already lost half their soldiers when Wellington's forces left Quatre Bras and proceeded to the area known as Waterloo. 

They arrived wet, hungry and tired after their long march in time to face the French again. 

The fighting recommenced and with what would become the focus of the famous painting,  Kenneth MacKay's actions played a key role in changing the direction of the battle.

After prolonged fighting, the 79th were tiring.  As the regiment formed a defensive square to repel the French cavalry, the piper stepped outside the slight protection of the square, with the aim to to rebuild the confidence of the soldiers remaining.  Marching around the square, Kenneth played the ancient rallying tune 'War or Peace, the gathering of the Clans'. 

The tune and the piper's apparent contempt for the French as they attacked,  rallied the troops with reports stating that by nightfall the great army of Napoleon had been destroyed. 

Following the Battle of Waterloo, the 79th were stationed in Paris and it was during this time that Kenneth was awarded a set of mounted silver pipes by King George III.  It is believed these pipes are now held by the Highland Museum in Inverness.  

In 1839 Kenneth's oldest daughter Catherine emigrated to Australia with her father listed as living in Loch Broom and working as a cooper.  

After this Piper Kenneth MacKay appears to disappear into history with his legend captured in paint and his moment of gallantry to remain part of Scottish folklore forever.

Painting: Piper Kenneth MacKay at Waterloo by J B Anderson

Relationship to Appleyards:  Grandfather of Catherine Kennedy, married to Alfred Henry Appleyard