DARBY (Milton, Ontario) McCARROL January 18, 1932 – December 28, 2011. With a lifetime passion for bagpipes, Darby played with the RCAF 400 Squadron, retired WO 48th Highlanders of Canada, PM of the Dundas Pipe band and the Caledonia Pipe band, SGT Piper Edmonton Caledonia. Darby played for Highland Dancing across Canada and the US for many years. Past Master Caledonia Lodge.
He was an electrician by trade. He lived a lifetime with a love for the music of the bagpipe. First taught by his father Hamilton McCarrol, Pipe-Major of the 48th Highlanders Depot Pipe Band during World War II, he was taught by the great Edinburgh/Toronto piper John Wilson for more than 10 years. McCarrol won the Open Piobaireachd event at the Fergus Highland Games playing “Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon.”
In addition to the 48th Highlanders, Darby McCarrol played with several top-flight bands of the time, including the RCAF 400 Squadron and the Caledonia Pipe Band. He was Pipe-Sergeant of the Edmonton Caledonia Pipe Band and Pipe-Major of the Dundas Pipe Band.
Fire officials say that McCarrol, who died in a house fire, managed to save his dog’s life first. Investigators have learned Darby McCarrol let his dog out of the home during the fire on Wednesday. But then for some reason, McCarrol went back into the house. He was found overcome by smoke in the bedroom and later died in a Hamilton hospital.
I’m thinking that he went back to rescue his bagpipe. By all accounts he made a very good bagpipe
