"Colonel Guinness saw at once that here was a keen, ambitious, stripling of parts, and, although scarcely the age for enlistment, Dunbar being just 16, he was allowed to try the piping tests, and although these were fairly hard, set as they were for men of from 18 to 21 years of age, Dunbar passed very creditably and was taken on the strength of the regiment and posted to the pipe band. It was a proud day for the slim, fair-haired boy when he went through the 'piper's initiation', and was fitted out with a uniform and kit, and a full sized bagpipe and the ivory-mounted 'feadan' (chanter) placed in his hands by a kindly pipe sergeant with the words: 'Ye ken, my lad, the auld word, 'learn young, learn fair. Ye're young enough, in all conscience, but gin ye wish to gang far, ye'll hae to wark hard and keep at it. Guid luck tae ye, my boy'."