William Lawrie (1881–1916) was a Scottish bagpipe player, who was both an eminent solo competitor and a composer.
He was born into a slate quarrying family in Ballachulish, Argyll and was the son of Hugh Lawrie, (Eòghann Thomais Uilleam) who gave him his first lessons on the Highland bagpipes at the age of seven.
[1][2] In 1910 he became the second piper ever to win the gold medals at the Northern Meeting and Argyllshire Gathering in the same year.
[1] In 1914 he became Pipe Major of the 8th Argyllshire Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and served with them in France from 1915 to 1916 when he became ill as a result of trench conditions.
[3] A 'marbhrann' (gaelic lament) was written upon his death by the Islay bard Duncan Johnston who was a close personal friend.