A fine tribute to one of the first Drummer Boys to be killed in action, 18 year old Drummer Charles STEER, Scots Guards. Killed on the 20th October 1914. initially buried by the Germans in KRUISEEKE German Cemetery but his grave was later lost. He was the son of RSM Sid and Gertrude Steer of Caterham Surry. Charles is now commemorated in ZANTFOORDE British Cemetery and as the inscription says 'Their glory shall not be blotted out'.

Great tunes and very well played . WJ

Well done to your band Yves , good job mon ami !

Je vous ai vus jouer ce dernier weekend à Arras et à roclincourt et je tenais à vous féliciter pour vos deux prestations et pour l'ensemble de votre action qui permet de faire perdurer la mémoire devons ces soldats disparus lors de ce conflit! Encore bravo! Robert

Dear Yves
I am writing on behalf of WW100 Scotland and the Scottish Commemorations Panel to thank you for your magnificent contribution as part of the Beating Retreat and Sunset Ceremony in Place des Héros in Arras on Sunday evening.
I trust you could tell from the very large crowd there present how much the Battle of the Somme Pipe Band was so clearly loved and valued and appreciated. I am only sorry that the arrangements which had been so carefully put into place in advance by WW100 Scotland were knocked off course by the Canadian Ceremonies at Vimy Ridge ending 45 minutes later than anticipated! and with consequent transport confusion and difficulties thereafter.
There can be no doubt however that the people of Arras were very happy and felt well served by the ultimate outcome within which I would be glad and grateful if you would kindly convey our gratitude and high regard to your good self as indeed to all members of your well-known and much respected Pipes & Drums.

With all good wishes to you and all yours for a very happy and Peaceful Easter.

Norman Drummond

Thank you Yves, from all families who have ancestors that lie still in France and Flanders. PAT

You all do a great service for the fallen,,,you give your time and respect,,,thank you all so much,,,,, Ivor Scott

Yves, I follow and enjoy your posts.all the best to you and the Somme band.
David

so proud of you all ,well done sbpb

Great well done to you all keep up the good work.

Hi! Brother! I didn’t know you have braved the scottish autorithies at home, wearing the war-uniforms of the great war, and then the Archibald Grant’s congratulations. This is a huge and amazing sign of respect and memory to those who made pay chearly the victory on the Somme Battlefields. So that everyone in Scotland do not ignore: « we will remenber them » as everybody says every year on commemoration places. Long life to the Somme Battlefield Pipe Band !

80000 Visites au 18 Décembre 2016 !

quel plaisir Yves, je veux dire que le SBPB est toujours présent sur les lieux de la Mémoire.... et se retrouve également en compagnie des formations écossaises , tout naturellement , j ai apprécié , en direct , le 1er juillet dernier au Lochnagar crater sur la BBC , également ton hommage aux combattants de la SOMME.....voilà ; bien a toi , Michel

Cher Yves,
Mille merci pour avoir , comme à chaque fois, donné un éclat particulier à notre manifestation.
Amicalement, Philippe

Bonjour M.Holbecq,
Je profite d'un petit moment de repos entre mes examens pour encore vous remercier de votre prestation !
Nous avons été ravis ! C'était vraiment super et très prenant !
Je n'hésiterai pas à vous contacter lors d'un prochain évènement, suivant votre planning car je sais que vous êtes beaucoup pris.
Pour les photos, aucun souci, je vous fais suivre quelques photos.
Bonne journée à vous et merci encore
Bien Cordialement

Antoine BERTHE.

Bonjour Monsieur HOLBECQ je tenais à vous féliciter vous et votre groupe pour votre représentation dimanche sur la commune de ERIN à l’occasion de la messe dominicale et en mémoire des tankistes du tank corps.
ENCORE FELICITATION A VOUS ET VOTRE GROUPE POUR VOTRE TRAVAIL ET POUR LE DEVOIR DE MEMOIRE.

Mr ROBAIL DENIS
Conseiller municipal de BLANGY SUR TERNOISE
Vice Président de l’association HISTOIRE ET PATRIMOINE DE BLANGY SUR TERNOISE

Membre du comité local du souvenir français de FEBVIN PALFART.

Encore merci pour votre prestation, j'ai personellement trouvé cela très beau et très professionnel avec un profond respect de l'histoire. Bravo à toute l'équipe. Cordialement,
C.LEROY

My Dear Yves,
This is just a brief note to thanks you so much for the band's wonderful performance yesterday. I will write another e-mail tomorrow, in French, for you to forward to the members of the band.
ANNE

Christine and I enjoyed meeting,listening to you and your band at last years Lens air show.and were very moved at your part in the " reconstruction of the Battle of Loos" and the part my grandfather Piper Laidlaw, The piper of Loos played in the Battle.we were sorry to have missed you on your visit to Scotland on Minden day but hope to see you and your band in 2017. If you are back at Lens. Best regards David.

Bonjour Yves

A nous de vous remercier pour cette ambiance géniale.
J’espère à une prochaine fois
Bien à vous
Buffart Séverine
Asbl Foyer Culturel de Saint-Ghislain

Bonjour Monsieur,
Encore merci pour votre prestation à Caudry qui fut très appréciée.
D'ici quelques jours, un reportage photo complet du week-end sera mis en ligne sur le site internet de la ville de Caudry.

Cordialement,P.H

Well Done Yves, as usual you paid your tribute to the fallen with dignity

70000 Visites au 4 Août 2016

Dear Frank,
So pleased that you contacted Pipe Major Holbecq .Sarie Marais holds a special place in our family's heart.....My wife,Anne's father,Major Dick Partridge MM,was seconded from the Welch to the SAS in WW2.He was parachuted into Yugoslavia to train Marshal Tito's
partisani.He was captured and was being transported in a cattle traincar along with a SAfrican soldier.They managed to break a hole in the floor and ,precariously swinging themselves with bent knees,launched themselves between the wheels of the moving train.This,at night! On landing and rolling into scrub their signal to find one another was to whistle Sarie Marais.

Yet another part of our gratitude and the blessing of being together in the Somme in July 2016 !
Warm regards to all, Fred

Pipe Major Yves Holbecq
Dear Major Holbecq ,

I refer to your fine performance during the ceremony on Sunday 10 th July at Thiepval devoted to the South African contingent present and to our subsequent discussions after the ceremony when you gave me your card .

Once again I wish to congratulate you on your excellent pipe playing that day and in particular for including Sarie Marais which was greatly appreciated by all concerned.

We wish you much success in the future,

Avec mes remerciements et salutations cordiales,

Frank Raimondo.